From left are Aneesh Iyer; Vincent Mann, chief of Ramapough Lunaape Nation; Mikie Mann; Ayush Iyer; and Vanya Iyer. (Photo provided)
Chess for Charity, created by the Iyer brothers, recently raised $3,500 for the local Native American community of the Ramapough Lunaape Nation to help them reach their goal of food sovereignty and sustainability through their farm, Munsee Three Sisters in Andover.
The fundraiser included two Indian cooking lessons and a United States Chess Federation chess tournament at the Sparta Public Library. Twenty players, including a national chess master, played in the tournament.
Valerie Munro, a local author of a children’s book about chess, distributed medals to the tournament winners.