Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”Without many organized sports or after school activities in the Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus, many kids turn to gangs to occupy their time. The Hilltop Tigers soccer program helps keep kids away from violence, but organizers desperately need an indoor facility for winter. The group pleas with civic leaders and city council for financial support. Hilltop Tigers soccer coach Ali Jeylani drives a colorful 2004 Ford E350 transport van to pick up Hassan Aweis from the Wedgewood Apartments on Nov. 4. Jeylani drives several miles around the Hilltop to pick up kids for soccer practice from the Wedgewood and Havenwood housing communities.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”Hilltop Tigers coach Ali Jeylani drives around the Hilltop, mainly in the Wedgewood and Havenswood housing communities, in a donated 2004 Ford E350 transport van picking up kids from the U16 soccer team to go to practice at Wilson Road Park on Nov. 4.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”Aweys Bilal, 14, jogs one of four laps around the soccer fields at Wilson Road Park as he warms up for Hilltop Tigers soccer practice on Nov. 4. The practice would end up being the final outdoor practice of the fall season due to early darkness and colder temperatures.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”Hilltop Tigers founder and co-director Siyat Mohamed helps coach soccer practice at Wilson Road Park on Nov. 4. The practice would end up being the final outdoor practice of the fall season due to early darkness and colder temperatures.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”Sharmarke Abdi, 15, wraps his arms around twins Wencell and Wendell Medina as they finish practicing at Wilson Road Park on Nov. 4. The practice would end up being the final outdoor practice of the fall season due to early darkness and colder temperatures.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”With weather being too cold to practice outside and an indoor soccer facility not yet being procured, members of the Hilltop Tigers hang out in the MyProjectUSA youth center watching soccer highlight videos from YouTube on the TV after school on Nov. 15.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”My Project USA founder and executive director Zerqa Abid makes a passionate plea to Columbus City Council on Oct. 28 for budgetary funding that will allow the Hilltop Tigers soccer program to be able to play year round.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”With Hilltop Tigers players lined up behind her, My Project USA founder and executive director Zerqa Abid makes a plea for donations to support youth programs like the Tigers during the My Project USA fall banquet on Nov. 7. My Project USA, which recently opened a youth center on Sullivant Avenue, provides Muslim social services and programming for kids in the Hilltop area.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”Christian McNair, 10, gathers his soccer cleats to get ready to play on the field at Havenwood Townhomes in the Hilltop on Nov. 22. Soccer is a popular hobby for many of underprivileged kids in the Hilltop like Christian. My Project USA funds the Hilltop Tigers program to keep kids active and out of trouble year round.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”Soccer is a popular activity for underprivileged kids in the Hilltop, like these at Havenwood Townhomes, on Nov. 22. My Project USA funds the Hilltop Tigers soccer program to keep kids active and out of trouble year round.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”Christian McNair, 10, retrieves soccer balls from the goal at Havenwood Townhomes in the Hilltop on Nov. 22. Soccer is a popular hobby for many of the kids in the Hilltop like Christian. My Project USA funds the Hilltop Tigers program to keep kids active and out of trouble year round.
Third place, Sports Picture Story - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Hilltop Tigers Soccer Program”Soccer is a popular activity for underprivileged kids in the Hilltop, like these on the field at Havenwood Townhomes, on Nov. 22. My Project USA funds the Hilltop Tigers soccer program to keep kids active and out of trouble year round. According to neighbors, the field gets used every day of the year regardless of weather.
