Fordson senior football running back Rabeah Beydoun was among the awardees.

DEARBORN — The city’s non-profit Hype Athletics organization received perhaps the ultimate present earlier this winter when it partnered with Wayne County and broke ground on a new 110,000+ square-foot facility in Dearborn Heights along with the Zaman International charity organization.

But a sold-out Greenfield Manor for the organization’s 10th anniversary celebration and fund-raising dinner made for yet another special gift on Friday, March 11, as the group honored outstanding local student-athletes while sharing the year’s accomplishments and upcoming plans with the audience.

Ali Sayed, Hype’s founder and a recent Dearborn City Council candidate, thanked the audience for their support of the organization, which began with a single basketball tournament and has grown into an all-encompassing community-building effort that includes athletic programs at reasonable rates, substance abuse prevention, counseling, tutoring, mentoring, and other programs. Hype has provided services for over 24,000 youth and adults since 2001 and is expected to offer over 80 total programs in 2011.

“I stand here today humbled and for some reason nervous for the first time in a while…I thank you so much for your support and commitment,” Sayed said.

Former NFL player and Detroit community activist Jason Strayhorn (L), Fordson senior basketball player and award winner Yazmeen Hamid, and Hype founder Ali Sayed pose. PHOTOS: Nafeh AbuNab/TAAN

“We held that first tournament at Hemlock Park as part of a commitment to teach unity and diversity and it did just that, now we’ve expanded to address a variety of needs for local families.”

Sayed received a special tribute from state representatives George Darany of Dearborn and Bob Constan of Dearborn Heights as well.

Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko said the new Hype/Zaman center, which will be built using stimulus funds, will be a boon for the city.

“Tonight we have a large crowd and deservedly so, we’re pleased to say this great organization will be in Dearborn Heights and we’re so proud, it will mean all sorts of good things for the youth in the surrounding area.”

Najah Bazzy, founder of the Zaman charity with its motto “Hope for Humanity,” also spoke.

“We will build strong bodies and minds on one side with Hype and strong hearts and souls on the other side with Zaman. I can see kids playing basketball on one side and packing food for the homeless on the other side,” she said.

Deputy Wayne County Executive Azzam Elder, who accepted an Excellence in Leadership Award on behalf of Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, offered up famous quotes in describing the importance of the services Hype offers.

“Plato said you can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation, (anthropologist) George Dorsey said, ‘Play is the beginning of knowledge,’ and Nobel Prize-winner George Bernard Shaw said, ‘We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.’

“Hype and Zaman are taking a holistic approach in the development of our kids,” he said.

Student athletes named as Youth Achievement awardees included seniors Rabeah Beyoun and Yazmeen Hamid of Fordson High School, Charlie Melekian of Edsel Ford, and Josh Hamet of Dearborn High School. Sophomore Ali Cheib of Dearborn Heights Crestwood was given an award as well.

Patrick Allison won the award for Business Supporter of the Year and Bob Bridges, who has coached football and track at Dearborn High for over 50 years, was given the Community Service award.

Sayed also thanked Dearborn investor Jim Perrilli for his support along with Wayne County Four-Star Health and Super Greenland Market.

Actor, comedian, financial advisor, and former Michigan State University football player Brian Mosallam, emcee of the event, agreed about the important role athletics can play, noting that they can help break down racial and other barriers and build camaraderie.

Former NFL player and Mosallam’s college teammate, community-building activist and chairman of the Detroit-based CIG real estate development and construction group, Jason Strayhorn, also spoke in support of Sayed’s organization at the event.

“I love athletics not because it’s the “Cool Kid’s Club,” but because of the life lessons it teaches all of us,” he said.

“When I first met Ali I saw that he had the fire in his eyes, a passion that permeated from his soul and heart, this guy lives and dies for the youth and we hope you’ll support him in his mission.”

For more information on Hype or to donate, visit www.hypeathletics.org.