The International Chess Federation, FIDE, has been recognized as a distinguished recipient of the Anthem Award, winning Bronze in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category for its Chess for Freedom Project. The social initiative has also become an Anthem Community Voice Winner, selected by the online community.
The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS) announced the Winners for the 3rd Annual Anthem Awards, which was launched by The Webby Awards in 2021 to recognize social impact work across the globe. This year's Anthem Winners were selected from a pool of over 2,000 submissions from 44 countries.
Now in its third year, the Anthem Awards are the biggest and most comprehensive social impact award in the world. This year's winners include change-making nonprofits and foundations like the Planned Parenthood, IllumiNative, It Gets Better Project, World Central Kitchen, Decolonizing Wealth Project, and UNICEF; cultural figures including Taylor Swift, The Daily Show, and Amazon Music; industry and brand leaders like PepsiCo, Rare Beauty, Patagonia, Google, and NFL; and groundbreaking news and media organizations including ABC News, CNN, Al Jazeera, and VICE Media.
FIDE, the global sporting body of chess recognized by the IOC, has earned the Anthem award for its outstanding Chess For Freedom project, launched in 2021 as a cooperation with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (Chicago, USA). This initiative focuses on empowering inmates to improve their life chances and skills through learning and playing chess. A recent edition of its flagship event, the Intercontinental Chess Championship for Prisoners, held in October 2023, attracted 116 teams, including 22 female and 17 youth squads, from 50 countries worldwide.
Sonja Johnson, President of the Trinidad & Tobago Chess Federation and Dr Mikhail Korenman, Cook County Jail Chess Coach
"FIDE is exceptionally honored and pleased to have received this award," said Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the International Chess Federation.
"This recognition signifies the acknowledgement of the dedicated work undertaken by our organization and the entire global chess community. We are committed to introducing more people to the personal and social benefits of chess and showcasing how it can complement our daily lives."
"The Anthem Awards were born out of the desire to amplify and celebrate the voices that are creating sustainable change and to inspire others to take action," said Patricia McLoughlin, Anthem Awards General Manager. "In a year where so much is at stake, it is incredibly important to recognize impact work and celebrate the progress happening globally. Congratulations to all of this year's Winners."
"This recognition further fuels FIDE's dedication to advancing its mission, inspired by the positive impact of chess on individuals and communities globally. Chess is not just a game; it's a tool of change. Together, we're rewriting the story of second chances and triumphs behind prison walls," Dana Reizniece-Ozola, FIDE Deputy Chair of the Management Board, added.
About FIDE:
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is the global governing body for chess, recognized by the International Olympic Committee. FIDE is dedicated to organizing chess events and promoting the game worldwide.
About the Anthem Awards:
Launched in 2021 by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we're defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities. The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Education, Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate. Founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ.
Official website: anthemawards.com/
