DEARBORN — It was a ground-breaking ceremony in more ways than one as local dignitaries came together to officially announce the forthcoming Hype Athletics complex and Hope for Humanity Center, a joint venture between the two well-known non-profit Dearborn institutions.

(L-R) Dearborn Heights City Councilman Tom Berry, Zaman International Founder Najah Bazzi, Hype Athletics Founder Ali Sayed, Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini of the ICA, Wayne County Exec. Robert Ficano, and Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko conduct a ceremonial ground-breaking on the new Hype/Zaman complex in Dearborn Heights at Warrendale Park. PHOTO: Nick Meyer/TAAN

The new 110,000 square-foot complex will be built on the site of Warrendale Park and will be used as a multipurpose facility with the goal of community-building in mind. The expected timetable for its construction is about a year give or take a few months.

“After endless hours of searching for sites we finally found the right one,” said Ali Sayed, a 2009 Dearborn City Council candidate who founded Hype Athletics.

“We are shocked with the generosity Wayne County and the city of Dearborn Heights showed us and we want to thank them for that.”

Dearborn Heights City Councilman Tom Berry talked about what the center will provide for the city and the area.

“This complex will help to build awareness and community, it will become a destination point, it will help the city make progress and the property values will increase.”

Included in the Hype Athletics portion of the center is a workout area, basketball courts, fields for football, soccer and other sports, and more.

The Zaman International Hope for Humanity Center includes a conference center, vocational training for helping prospective workers, a large food bank area, a children’s education center, classrooms, and a kitchen as well as a dining area.

Hype Athletics has provided services for over 24,000 youth and adults since 2001 and is expected to offer 80 different programs in 2011 including tutoring and literacy development, social awareness with mentoring, counseling, and substance abuse education and prevention.

Zaman International was founded in 1996 and works to help needy families and to feed the hungry, provide training in English and vocational fields, provide clothing, and more both locally and internationally.

“In a year or so, this center will help us to build lives, to fill stomachs, to educate, liberate, and empower, and to help give our children the things they need and deserve,” said Najah Bazzi, the founder of Zaman.

 Sayed had been mentored by Bazzi at the Islamic Center of America (ICA) in Dearborn’s Young Muslims Association and called her a spiritual guide who helped him to become the person he is today. The pair also invited Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini from the ICA to close the ceremony with a speech.

Sayed said he has known of Bazzi’s work for years and kept up-to-date on Zaman’s search for a center. When a site plan to expand to Garden City didn’t quite work out, Bazzi and Sayed met to discuss new plans and settled on the Dearborn Heights location.

“We wanted to partner to build one massive facility to enable us to serve the entire family and all ages,” Sayed said.

Sayed has programs in various communities including Dearborn and even at-risk youth in Detroit and hopes to serve more. Athletic programs include leagues, tournaments, instructional camps and more.

“It’s going to be great because Hype will drive so much traffic with the youth and the families will be able to literally walk next door and see how they can help with Zaman’s food drives, clothing drives and more.”

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano also spoke at the ground-breaking.

“These are two organizations that share values and will be able to assist the youth and their families,” he said.

“The county and the cities always try to do as much as possible but when you partner with great organizations like these it all works out.”

Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko also spoke.

“As the mayor of Dearborn Heights, I can’t show people a natural wonder like Niagara Falls but I always tell people about our services and our community spirit, and I can’t think of two better organizations to represent that than Zaman and Hype.

“It’s all about the kids and we thank you for coming to Dearborn Heights, being a part of our family and picking us as your home.”

For additional information on Hype Athletics, visit www.hyepathletics.org and for more information on Zaman International, visit www.zamaninternational.org.