Colts’ receiver T.Y. Hilton hosted The Strikes For Kids Indy Bowling Classic, presented by Storm Bowling at the Expo Bowling Center. Proceeds from the event went to four scholarships that will benefit four local high school seniors for the first-year of going to college through the Strikes for Kids’ Strikes For Scholarships program.
As someone who was able to go to Florida International University and graduate while playing football with his family behind him, the event meant “a lot” to Hilton.
“These kids are coming up on their way to graduate from high school and trying to get their degree from college and they need help,” said Hilton. “I’m out here helping them, help be able to give some money to help support their cause and being able to graduate. For me, it means a lot to me because I graduated and I had my family behind me, that’s what i’m out here for.”
Joe Allen, the Founder/CEO of Strikes For Kids, said the organization “couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to partner with” Hilton.
Some of Hilton’s teammates Dwayne Allen, Darius Butler, Ricky Jean-François, Eric Walden joined him in giving back.
“The Indianapolis community looks up to these players and we look forward to watching them turn their attention to the bowling lanes to knockdown pins for a great cause,” said Allen.
A father of two sons and a newborn baby girl born a week and a half ago, Hilton says he is “going to push” his kids to graduate from college as well. As for the local students Hilton is trying to benefit, he hopes this event gives them an important message.
“We’re just letting them know you can make it,” said Hilton. “Coming out of the inner city, it’s okay. As long as you keep pushing yourself you can do it.”
Allen believes the event was “very important”, as he came from an inner city, single parent home with his mother, and if not for football, there was “no telling” if Allen would have gone to college, where he starred at the University of Clemson.
“For kids aspiring to go pursue and further their education, for T.Y. (Hilton) to be able to help them out and put on a benefit like this is very special and very important for them,” said Allen.
Allen added that if one member of a family can “break the cycle and go to college”, it can only help future generations of that family succeed, and he was also very commendable of Hilton’s involvement.
“It changes because the new standard is not only to just graduate from high school but to graduate from college, and whenever that cycle begins, great things begin to come of your family and future families,” said Allen. “And that’s one of the reasons why T.Y. wanted to get involved. He’s a college graduate, he has two sons and just had a little girl. I’m sure the standard in his household is to graduate from college. For him to just pay it forward to needed students is a part of him. That’s the kind of guy T.Y. is.”
Strikes For Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings together professional athletes and local youth organiations to help the community.
Photos by Michael Johnson
