By Jon Schuppe
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
HARLEM — A Harlem youth football organization is scrambling to raise enough money to send two of its teams to a national championship tournament that begins in Florida on Saturday.
Most of the Harlem Jets' 46 players and 10 coaches have come up with the $500 to cover their trip to the American Youth Football championships in Orlando. But many of them can't afford it. So for nearly two weeks the Jets have been walking the streets for donations, soliciting contributions online, and dipping into the non-profit organization's meager operational budget to cover the rest.
So far, according to one coach's estimate, there are still a handful of players who are still short on funds.
"We're going to make it happen, one way or another," coach Stefan Romero said.
In a way, the Jets are a victim of their own success. In 2008 and 2009, the organization sent its 11-and-under pee wee team to the tournament. The team remained nearly intact, and graduated to the 12-and-under junior midget division this year, where they dominated their city-league opponents. They're headed back, along with the 9-and-under mighty mites, who also won their city-league division.
The week-long AYF tournament features a grueling schedule of games, culminating with the national championships on Dec. 10.
The Jets are also sending three cheerleading teams, who are competing for their own national championships.
"It's been a dream season for us as an organization," said Romero, the mighty mites' 34-year-old coach. "It's exciting to see all the hard work come together."
Jets president Jamel Wright figures the total cost for the trip at $50,000.
Coaches and players are combing the neighborhood for tax-deductible donations, which can also be made through the Jets' website.
"We are taking whatever we have in our pockets, even our Christmas money, to make sure everyone can get on this flight," Romero said.
Last year, another Manhattan team, the Downtown Giants, sent a squad to the national championships. The team won the midget division title, but was stripped of the honor after league officials found discrepancies on their official roster. They accepted third place instead.
Founded in 2006 with five coaches and 75 players, the Harlem Jets now have 30 coaches and about 280 players from ages 5 to 16, most of whom live in Harlem, Romero said. All seven of the Jets' teams made the city playoffs in their respective divisions this year, he said.
"Beyond football, this is a great experience for an inner-city kid," Romero said. "A lot of our kids have never left the city, let alone been on an airplane. I tell them this is something they'll remember forever."
