Issa Jeylani Memorial Recreation Center:

We Have Purchased the Land for the Issa Jeylani Memorial Recreation Center – Now We Need YOUR Help

MY Project USA Has Acquired the 2.1-Acre Site on Sullivant Avenue

We Need Help to Repay the Purchase Loan Within the Next 3 Months

Family,

MY Project USA has major news to share: The Issa Jeylani Memorial Recreation Center is one important step closer to reality!

Last week, MY Project USA officially purchased the future site of the Issa Jeylani Memorial Recreation Center for $250,000. This is a 2.13-acre piece of land on Sullivant Avenue where we aim to build two full-size indoor soccer fields, a basketball court, offices, a cafeteria and classrooms.

This will truly be a Field of Dreams for so many children in the Hilltop.

For the last several years, MY Project USA has not been able to find any consistent year-round recreation location that could accommodate daily practices and games for the children in our Hilltop Tigers soccer program. There are approximately 10,000 children at risk of gang and gun violence in the Hilltop area, and this center will provide a safe haven to hundreds of them each year.

Since we were not able to raise enough money, we acquired a loan at zero percent interest. Our Founder & Executive Director Zerqa Abid acquired a personal loan of $125,000 to add to an additional sum of $125,000 from her own pocket to help the organization reach the $250,000 figure needed for the land. This gets us ever closer to the creation of this much-needed facility for the underserved children of the Hilltop.

Now we need your help.

MY Project USA has three months to repay the $250,000 loan, and we are humbly asking for the public’s support. Please join hands with us in helping make the Issa Jeylani Memorial Recreation Center a reality. Donate via the button below.

Help keep our young people safe. Help us provide a compelling alternative to guns, gangs, drugs and human trafficking on the west side of Columbus. Please consider joining our team today.

Thank you,
Russ Harris
MY Project USA Treasurer

Community Development:

Help Hilltop Youth Go Back to School in Style with Your Donations of School Supplies

We Aim to Distribute School Bags & Supplies at Upcoming Festival

Rescheduled Hilltop Youth Rise & Back to School Festival Is Slated for Aug. 19

Because of circumstances outside of our control, MY Project USA announces that the Hilltop Youth Rise & Back to School Festival had to be rescheduled. The event will now be held on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 4-8 p.m. at the Wedgewood Village Apartments.

This is a joint venture of MY Project USA and the Columbus Division of Police.

The festival was originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 5. We apologize for any inconvenience, and we look forward to putting together a wonderful event on Saturday, Aug. 19.

There will be plenty of fun for the entire family, including free food, free haircuts, free school bags and school supplies (while supplies last), music and more! We are currently looking for volunteers for the event. Please sign up via the button below.

We are also asking for the public's help in gathering school supplies to hand out for this festival and beyond. Please consider donating via the Amazon Wishlist linked below.

Please send items purchased via our Amazon Wishlist to the Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center (3275 Sullivant Ave. Columbus, OH 43204).

MY Project USA thanks the city of Columbus, Ohio Department of Education, ADAMH Board of Franklin County and the Women's Fund of Central Ohio for their support!

Youth Development:

Noted Artist Leads Art Class for MY Leaders, Discusses Benefits of Art in Expressing Emotions

Arris' Cohen is Urban Art Space's Inaugural Community Artist-in-Residence

Recently, the MY Leaders group held an art class at the Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center led by noted Columbus artist Arris’ Cohen.

Cohen is Urban Arts Space’s Inaugural Community Artist-in-Residence, and it was a special treat to have him lead this class. Special thanks to new MY Project USA Board member Grace Johnson and MY Project USA Youth Program Director Katana Mullen for organizing the class.

Cohen was kind enough to take some time to sit down to speak with MY Project USA to talk about art and how it can be used to help young people express their emotions. Thank you, Arris’!

Thank you to the city of Columbus, Ohio Department of Education, ADAMH Board of Franklin County and the Women's Fund of Central Ohio for their support of the MY Leaders program.

Issa's Peace Patio:

Youth Leader Unaisa Qidwai Gives Moving Speech at Ribbon Cutting of Issa's Peace Patio

Unaisa & Her Brother Umair Were Major Contributors Toward Peace Patio 

MY Project USA Founder & Executive Director Zerqa Abid is very proud of her entire team for their efforts in helping create Issa’s Peace Patio at the Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center. Among those who had a major hand in the project is Unaisa Qidwai, who was the project manager for Issa’s Peace Patio.

Unasia gave a wonderful speech during the ribbon-cutting ceremony recently, and we wanted to make sure everyone got to hear her inspiring words. Enjoy this video, and if you would like to help MY Project USA keep Issa’s legacy alive, consider donating toward the creation of the Issa Jeylani Memorial Recreation Center. Visit MYProjectUSA.org/donors for more information.

Hilltop Tigers:

Somali Bantu Elders Join MY Project USA's Soccer Board

Karama Abdullahi & Ismael Hassan Join Russ Harris on Board

MY Project USA is excited to announce the addition of Karama Abdullahi & Ismael Hassan as the newest members of our Soccer Board.

Karama and Ismael join MY Project USA Treasurer and Soccer Board Chair Russ Harris on the Soccer Board. They will be helping with organizing leagues and tournaments to provide opportunities for people of all ages in the community. We look forward to seeing all the progress from the Board in the coming days, weeks and beyond.

Board of Directors:

Judge Sheryl Munson Steps Down from Board of Directors

She Departs to Avoid Conflicts of Interest after Receiving Cases from Community MY Project USA Serves

Judge Munson's MY Justice Warriors Work to be Picked Up by Ajmeri Hoque

Our dear Judge Sheryl Munson of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas has recently stepped down from MY Project USA Board of Directors.

As she recently received a few cases from the community we serve, the Ethics Committee advised her to leave our board to avoid any conflict of interest or similar issues. Since day one, she has been an invaluable member of the MY Project USA team and has been for many years. She is the founder of the MY Justice Warriors program, and her leadership and commitment to the mission and vision of MY Project USA has inspired many.

We appreciate everything Judge Munson has done for the organization, and we continue to value her friendship and volunteer services as a community member.

As for the MY Justice Warriors program, Judge Munson’s duties will be taken up by board member Ajmeri Hoque. Ajmeri is a successful attorney and owner of The Law Offices of Ajmeri Hoque.

Annual Banquet:

Save the Date! Annual Banquet Set for Saturday, Nov. 4

Event will be Held at the Ohio Union at The Ohio State University

MY Project USA is proud to announce the date and location of our annual banquet. The 2023 banquet will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University. Stay tuned for more info about this great event as we get closer to November!

MY Family Pantry:

Fruit, Cereal, Formula & More Served to More Than 2,100 Clients Last Week at MY Family Pantry

More Than 600 Individuals Visit Pantry on Saturday

It was another busy week at the Mid-Ohio Market at MY Project USA powered by MY Family Pantry, where more than 2,000 individuals and more than 500 families were served from Tuesday, Aug. 1-Saturday, Aug. 5.

Saturday was the busiest day, seeing 612 individuals come to the Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center to get nutritious food and household necessities. For the week, a total of 2,137 clients visited the pantry, including 568 families. Of those families, 70 visited us for the first time.

Items on the menu this week included apples, carrots, asparagus, CLIF bars, infant formula, cereal, peanut butter, fruit punch and much more.

We thank MY Project USA Pantry Director Ramy El-Assal and his entire team of staff and volunteers that make the pantry a success each and every week. Thanks to their hard efforts, we distribute fresh produce and groceries to hundreds of individuals in our community weekly.

Global Gifts & Thrift:

Check Out the Great Selection of Shoes at Global Gifts & Thrift

Check out the awesome variety and great prices! Don't forget: All proceeds of sales go to funding MY Project USA's programs. Happy shopping!

Shop. Donate. Build a Life!

📍 4730 Cemetery Rd. (Next to the Hilliard BMV)

MY Community Cafe:

Help Protect At-Risk Children in Columbus – Order from MY Community Cafe. Donate. Feed a Future!

We know that hungry children are easy prey, especially in the Hilltop – an urban area on the west side of Columbus that lacks places to buy affordable, high-quality fresh food. A warm meal could give leverage to drug dealers, pimps or any criminal looking to entice a hungry child into committing crimes or trap them in human trafficking. That is why we started food distribution as soon as we embarked on our journey of protecting our youth.

MY Project USA began MY Iftar Kitchen in Ramadan 2015, when we packed hot meals each day in the homes of community members and distributed those meals door-to-door in Wedgewood. A year later, with the help of Sister Dorothy Hassan, we partnered with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and kicked off the work of MY Family Pantry that Thanksgiving weekend.

Those projects continue, and in March 2023 we added MY Community Cafe – our latest initiative to address food insecurity in the Hilltop. It is a pay-forward cafe with all proceeds going to help MY Project USA feed all children, elderly, homeless and other clients on the west side of Columbus. Located at the Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center at 3275 Sullivant Ave., this cafe serves delicious Middle Eastern & Pakistani sandwiches, wraps, platters and more. 

The hard work to provide an oasis in this food desert continues, but we need your help. Your donations will help us continue to protect and empower vulnerable youth.

Order. Donate. Feed a Future!

Annual Report: 

Have You Read Our Annual Report Yet? It's 32 Pages of Great Info!

If you have not yet read our latest annual report, click on the image above (or the button below) to download a PDF of the 32-page report. We did our best to put eight years of work in these pages, but that's nowhere near enough to attempt to tell the full story. 

MY Helpline:

Rent & Utilities Support Available at MY Project USA

We have been working very hard in securing grants and building collaboration with other partners to help our clients. Thanks to The Columbus Foundation, United Way of Central Ohio, and IMPACT Community Action, we are still able to help more of our families with their rent and utilities. If you or someone you know needs help, please ask them to contact us at (614) 905-0977 or helpadmin@myprojectusa.org.

MY Deah's Warehouse:

12 Locations In Columbus To Drop Off Donations – Truck Pick-Up Available For Large Donations

You can now drop off your donations of new and gently used clothes, shoes, books, toys and other small non-breakable items in a donation box near you. These locations include: 

• Noor Islamic Cultural Center –  5001 Wilcox Rd. Dublin, OH 43016
• Masjid Nimrah – 4501 Refugee Rd. Columbus, OH 43232
• MAS Youth Center – 4615 Northtowne Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229
• Turkish American Society of Ohio (TASO) – 2885 W. Dublin Granville Rd. Columbus, OH 43235
• Ahlul Bayt Society – 2580 W. Dublin Granville Rd. Columbus, OH 43235
• The First Congregational Church – 444 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215
• MY Deah's Warehouse – 4004 Fondorf Dr. Columbus, OH 43228. (Business Hours Only)
• Global Gifts & Thrift – 4730 Cemetery Rd. Hilliard, OH 43206. (Business Hours Only)
• Heritage Christian Church – 7413 Maxtown Rd. Westerville, OH 43082
• Omar Ibn El-Khattab Masjid – 580 Riverview Dr. Columbus, OH 43202
• The Destiny Center – 1561 Old Leonard Ave. Columbus, OH 43219
• Bethel International United Methodist Church – 1220 Bethel Rd. Columbus, OH 43220

We are looking for more locations. If interested in helping us or have any other questions, please contact us at warehouse@myprojectusa.org.