"building minds. supporting community. thinking forward."
Mission
Rooklogic is a youth-driven community fund and initiative centered on promoting critical thinking, mentorship, and service. Inspired by the strategic depth of chess and the importance of disciplined thinking, Rooklogic aims to create opportunities for learning, leadership, and community impact.Through small but meaningful efforts, we seek to support educational growth, encourage mentorship, and contribute to causes that strengthen our local community.
What We Do
Community Engagement
Organizing and participating in local events that promote learning, collaboration, and youth involvement.Mentorship & Learning
Encouraging strategic thinking through activities such as chess, teaching, and peer mentorship.Community Fund
Supporting small-scale initiatives and causes that align with education, youth development, and community well-being.
Our Philosophy
We believe that small, consistent efforts can create meaningful change. Rooklogic is built on the idea that developing strong thinking skills, combined with a commitment to helping others, can have a lasting impact both individually and within the community.By starting early and staying engaged, we aim to grow not only as individuals, but as contributors to something larger than ourselves.
Upcoming Events
♜🎗️ Checkmate for a Cause 🎗️♜
Charity Chess Tournament at San Gabriel Mission
RookLogic is proud to host Checkmate for a Cause, a community chess tournament bringing together young players, families, local organizations, and chess supporters for a meaningful day of competition, learning, and fundraising.This special event is designed to give youth players an opportunity to challenge themselves, build confidence, practice sportsmanship, and connect with the broader chess community. Players of different rating levels will be able to compete in appropriate sections, including a dedicated Beginner / U800 / Beyond Chess Cup Section for newer players.In addition to promoting youth chess, Checkmate for a Cause will also support an important community cause through fundraising and sponsor support. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, the event will feature a prize pool expected to reach $2,500 based on 100 entries, while the U800 section will award trophies to the top 6 players.The tournament will take place at the historic San Gabriel Mission, creating a memorable setting for families and players. With Blossom Food Court and many restaurants nearby, this will be a fun, full-day community event for players, parents, and supporters.Whether your child is an experienced tournament player or just beginning their chess journey, Checkmate for a Cause is a great opportunity to learn, compete, make friends, and be part of something meaningful.Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026
Location: San Gabriel Mission
429 S Junipero Serra Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776Format: 4-round, single-day tournament
Main Sections: G/45 with 5-second delay
Beginner / U800 / Beyond Chess Cup Section: G/30 with 5-second delay, trophies onlyRegistration Deadline: August 29, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Capacity: Limited to 120 playersFor questions, please contact [email protected]
REGISTER HERE:
Projects And Initiatives
As part of our efforts to engage with the community, our team has had the opportunity to speak and share the vision behind Rooklogic.
💓♜🎗️ Checkmate for a Cause — Youth Leadership, Chess, and Community Service 🎗️♜💓
Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026
Location: San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, California
At Checkmate for a Cause, RookLogic co-founder Melody Kwan opened the event by sharing how her brother’s love for chess inspired her to support the chess community in her own way — through speech, leadership, and service. The event brought together young players, families, volunteers, sponsors, and community leaders at the historic San Gabriel Mission for a day of chess, learning, and giving back.Through sponsor support, RookLogic helped raise $5,000, with 50% donated to the San Gabriel Police Officers’ Association in support of breast cancer awareness efforts. The tournament also created opportunities for youth players of all levels, including newer players in the U800 section, to compete, build confidence, and be recognized for their growth.This project reflects RookLogic’s mission of using chess as more than a game. By combining youth leadership, community engagement, fundraising, and public speaking, Checkmate for a Cause showed how students can use their interests and voices to create meaningful impact beyond the chessboard.
Sunday 06/07/2026 - Tustin Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off — Community Engagement Through Chess♟️🌶️
On June 7, 2026, RookLogic volunteers supported Foothill Regional Medical Center and Astrana Health during the annual Tustin Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off. Through a family-friendly chess challenge, student volunteers helped create an engaging environment that attracted families, encouraged interaction, and supported community healthcare outreach efforts.The event demonstrated how educational activities like chess can serve as powerful tools for community connection. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages stopped by to play, observe, and participate, generating meaningful conversations and helping introduce community members to local healthcare resources.RookLogic remains committed to using strategic thinking, youth leadership, and volunteer service to strengthen the communities we serve.
Thursday 05/28/2026 - San Marino Unified Interview
April 2026 - Rook Logic Welcome Event
Presentation delivered at a local community event highlighting youth leadership, strategic thinking, and service by Melody Kwan.
RookLogic’s community chess activity began in 2025 as a small effort to help local players continue gathering, learning, and competing after the Altadena fire displaced the San Gabriel Valley Chess Club from its original playing space. By helping secure a new location, RookLogic supported the continuation of local chess culture and helped create a welcoming space for players, families, and mentors to stay connected.What started with just a small group of players gradually grew into a larger community gathering. In April 2026, the activity reached its biggest event yet, bringing together more than 60 players and families for a day of chess, learning, competition, and community spirit.The event showed how chess can bring people together during times of change and challenge. From young beginners to experienced players, the room was filled with focus, energy, and shared passion for the game.RookLogic is proud to support youth leadership, strategic thinking, and the continued growth of local chess communities — one move, one game, and one gathering at a time.
Community Chess Outreach
Introducing chess as a tool for critical thinking and discipline among younger students.Youth Engagement
Participating in events that encourage leadership, communication, and teamwork.Ongoing Development
Continuously exploring ways to expand impact through new ideas and community involvement.
Our Team & Friends
Along the way, we’ve been fortunate to receive encouragement and support from friends, mentors, families, and community members who believe in what we’re building. Their guidance, kindness, and resources continue to help Rooklogic grow one step at a time.
Rooklogic is currently led by a small group of student co-founders who share an interest in learning, strategic thinking, leadership, and community involvement. As the initiative continues to grow, we hope to collaborate with more students, families, and supporters who share these values.
Melody Kwan (Co-Founder)
Melody Kwan | Co-FounderMy mom first signed me up for speech and debate because, according to her, I talked too much—so I might as well put it to good use. She turned out to be right. Speech and debate taught me that having a voice is about more than talking; it is about organizing ideas, listening to others, communicating clearly, and having the confidence to speak up.My younger brother, Wesley, is the chess player in our family. Through him, I became part of a community of players, families, coaches, and mentors. Competitive chess was never my main activity, but I realized I could contribute in a different way—through communication, public speaking, organization, and bringing people together.That idea helped shape RookLogic. After the 2025 Eaton Fire in Altadena displaced our local chess community from its playing location, we helped find a new place for players and families to continue gathering. What began as a small effort grew into larger community events, including Checkmate for a Cause, where I had the opportunity to welcome players, families, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who came together through chess to support a local cause.Through RookLogic, I hope to combine what Wesley and I have learned from chess, speech, and debate. Chess teaches us to think ahead; speech and debate teach us how to turn those thoughts into a voice. I especially hope to help younger students build the confidence to think independently, communicate their ideas, and make a difference in their own communities.Outside of RookLogic, I continue to compete in speech and debate and have been fortunate to receive recognition at regional and state-level competitions. But I am still learning too—and I hope RookLogic continues to grow along with us.
Wesley Kwan (Co-Founder)
Wesley Kwan | Co-FounderI started playing chess when I was in kindergarten. My first big tournament was the 2022 American Open U200 section, and I still remember winning a trophy that was bigger than me. I thought, “Wow, this is really cool,” and after that I wanted to keep playing and improving.One of my favorite things about chess is traveling to tournaments with my dad on weekends. Sometimes we spend 4–5 hours driving, but it’s always worth it because I love the competitiveness and excitement of tournament chess. One of my favorite trips was flying to compete in the National Elementary School Championship.
In the press!
San Gabriel’s first charity chess tournament, held on August 30th, 2026 at Grapevine Arbor, which drew 120 players ranging from age 6 to 74. The event raised funds for breast cancer prevention and awareness, with $2,500 donated to the San Gabriel Police Officers’ Association, and was organized through collaboration among the city, police association, RookLogic, and the San Gabriel Valley Chess Club.
Read the full article below:
Contact Us & Get Involved
We are always looking for ways to grow and collaborate. If you are interested in supporting our efforts, learning more, or volunteering, we welcome you to reach out.
Donations:
Email Us: [email protected]