THE GRANTEE

> An Old-School Journalist With a Big Heart

Marcelo Fleury isn’t your average do-gooder. He’s a veteran journalist hailing from the streets of Porto Alegre, Brazil, who’s spent his entire career chasing truths and asking tough questions. But lately, he's started chasing something different too: social change. Witnessing firsthand how inequality suffocates talent in Brazil’s underprivileged neighbourhoods, Marcelo's traded the newsroom for a bit of mischief helping those around him.

“I’m a journalist donating time, money and fighting for people who face inequalities,” Marcelo says, as if common sense.

John and I have got to know Marcelo and to say it's been a priveldge doesn't do the impact he's had on us justice. He's got this totally clear self-awareness and complete lack of ego - exactly why he’s the kind of grantee this project of ours champions. He doesn’t sugarcoat reality. Instead, he dives headfirst into the messiness of social injustice from the grassroots up, fully aware he's not some hero but simply a regular guy determined to make a tangible difference.

THE IDEA

> Chess, Community, and Kicking Down Doors

After stumbling upon these two gifted sisters—Gabrieli (17) and her younger sister Valentina (8) in a makeshift chess club in a favela, Marcelo saw their potential being wasted by circumstances beyond their control. Their mother Sabrina, working three relentless shifts a day just to make ends meet, couldn’t afford the luxury of competitive chess. To Marcelo, this wasn't just unfair—it was absurdly unacceptable. His idea was simple, bold, and gritty:

‍"I gotta be honest, I'm terrible at chess. But when I saw these two sisters playing, wow, they are absolute prodigies."
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His concept was straightforward yet powerfully disruptive: invest $500 given to him by us to get the sisters out of their favela and onto the international chess stage at a prominent tournament in Florianopolis. Simple? Yes. Brilliantly practical, in fact. It was less charity, more punk-rock-level and love infused support for a family who deserved it: directly challenging inequality by kicking down barriers on behalf of two beautiful girls and their super-mum, one chessboard move at a time.

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THEIR ACT

> Making Moves That Matter and Sparking Community Mojo

Marcelo covered Gabrielle and Valentina’s transportation, tournament fees, and accommodation for the international reknowned chess competition in Florianopolis - a big ol' event attracting over 400 players from 20 countries. But he didn’t stop there. He then arranged for personalized, intensive training sessions with Eduardo da Silva Duachi, a respected Brazilian chess master known affectionately as "Piolhadas." Marcelo laughs, recalling, "He's just an amazing human."

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The sisters didn’t just compete; they crushed it. Gabrielle and Valentina each snagged first-place victories in their categories, proving talent isn't limited by zip codes or social class. Their triumph wasn't just personal -it was symbolic. In a country where inequality is stark, with roughly 33 million Brazilians living in poverty and systemic obstacles profoundly limiting opportunities for young people from marginalized neighborhoods, Marcelo’s chess project is a powerful and personal challenge to this shitty status quo.

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This story also taps into something bigger culturally, echoing the classic underdog narrative seen in everything from Netflix’s "The Queen’s Gambit" to real-life examples like the legendary Jamaican bobsled team. It’s a universal reminder that talent, grit, and hustle can outmatch privilege and pedigree anytime, especially if you have someone like Marcelo batting for you.

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And the wins didn't stop at the chess table. Upon returning home, Sabrina, inspired by her daughters’ newfound recognition, launched a community fundraising campaign. The local newspapers jumped on the story, and within days, neighbors and community leaders matched Marcelo’s original $500 Drop Dead Generous grant. It was more than money—it was pride, momentum, and proof that grassroots action multiplies impact and reshapes community narratives.

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THE TAKEAWAY

> Generosity Is Stepping Up for Others

Marcelo chess project is Drop Dead Generous distilled down to its raw, rebellious essence. It’s proof you don’t have to be rich, powerful, or even particularly good at something to change the game. You just need to care about something for someone and do something about it.

I want to leave you with one little layer of the story Marcelo didn't initially share with us but tells us this guy goes above and beyond. Along this journey with the girls, Marcelo decided they needed a logo. So what did he do? He designed a for them. Two queens, side by side with a shared crown - progressing in life together.

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