May 01, 2019 at 10:42AM
A 911 call brought Columbus police officers to a South Side school, where they found a group of young cheerleaders who needed help.
It just wasn't the kind they anticipated.
If Columbus Diamonds Elite Cheer, a private team, doesn't collect $1,700 by Wednesday, the 22 girls won't be able to compete in a prestigious competition in Maryland this weekend, said their coach, Tye Parks. Parks apologized to police because, during the commotion of a Saturday evening fundraiser, one of the youngest girls had dialed 911 by mistake.
At that time, the cheerleaders had collected only about $500 for their competition fees and travel expenses.
By Tuesday afternoon, that number had doubled to about $1,000 thanks to donations from the Columbus Division of Police. The team's story touched 31-year-old Amanda Hoover, one of the officers who responded to the 911 call Saturday, so she asked her colleagues to help.
They're now extending that plea to the community, reaching out to businesses and the media, to help the girls collect the final $700 by their Wednesday deadline.
"These kids are what our community is about, our next generation," Hoover told The Dispatch. "I would hate for them to work this hard and come up short, so I'm going to try everything I can."
Saturday's competition, the Six Flags Spring Extravaganza, would be the Diamonds' first out-of-state contest and last competition this season, Parks said. The girls, ages 5 to18, have earned 38 first-place trophies in three years of competition in Ohio, including national champion awards from Cheer Max and the Arnold Sports Festival.
The group practices daily at South Columbus Preparatory Academy.
Parks, 31, said she's watched girls barely able to do a cartwheel work hard to master more complex moves, such as back handsprings and back tucks. Now, she wants to help them meet their final goal.
Since the team qualified for the Extravaganza, she and other coaches have planned five fundraisers in two weeks, such as selling meals and hosting carnivals.
Without the help of the police, they might have already canceled the trip by now, Parks said.
"It's been hard trying to make something happen out of nothing," she said. "They went out of their way to make sure we're able to accomplish our goals, to get the girls to Maryland, and I really, really appreciate that."
Hoover said her childhood was tough. Money was tight and the Ohio neighborhoods she lived in weren't the best. Police officers showed her compassion, such as bringing her a meal when she was hungry, and that kindness inspired her to pursue her career and help others.
Now, she's paying it forward.
"For me, this isn't a job, this is about helping somebody," Hoover said. "I just hope one day that these kids can pay it forward for somebody else."
awidmanneese@dispatch.com
@AlissaWidman
A 911 call brought Columbus police officers to a South Side school, where they found a group of young cheerleaders who needed help.
It just wasn't the kind they anticipated.
If Columbus Diamonds Elite Cheer, a private team, doesn't collect $1,700 by Wednesday, the 22 girls won't be able to compete in a prestigious competition in Maryland this weekend, said their coach, Tye Parks. Parks apologized to police because, during the commotion of a Saturday evening fundraiser, one of the youngest girls had dialed 911 by mistake.
At that time, the cheerleaders had collected only about $500 for their competition fees and travel expenses.
By Tuesday afternoon, that number had doubled to about $1,000 thanks to donations from the Columbus Division of Police. The team's story touched 31-year-old Amanda Hoover, one of the officers who responded to the 911 call Saturday, so she asked her colleagues to help.
They're now extending that plea to the community, reaching out to businesses and the media, to help the girls collect the final $700 by their Wednesday deadline.
"These kids are what our community is about, our next generation," Hoover told The Dispatch. "I would hate for them to work this hard and come up short, so I'm going to try everything I can."
Saturday's competition, the Six Flags Spring Extravaganza, would be the Diamonds' first out-of-state contest and last competition this season, Parks said. The girls, ages 5 to18, have earned 38 first-place trophies in three years of competition in Ohio, including national champion awards from Cheer Max and the Arnold Sports Festival.
The group practices daily at South Columbus Preparatory Academy.
Parks, 31, said she's watched girls barely able to do a cartwheel work hard to master more complex moves, such as back handsprings and back tucks. Now, she wants to help them meet their final goal.
Since the team qualified for the Extravaganza, she and other coaches have planned five fundraisers in two weeks, such as selling meals and hosting carnivals.
Without the help of the police, they might have already canceled the trip by now, Parks said.
"It's been hard trying to make something happen out of nothing," she said. "They went out of their way to make sure we're able to accomplish our goals, to get the girls to Maryland, and I really, really appreciate that."
Hoover said her childhood was tough. Money was tight and the Ohio neighborhoods she lived in weren't the best. Police officers showed her compassion, such as bringing her a meal when she was hungry, and that kindness inspired her to pursue her career and help others.
Now, she's paying it forward.
"For me, this isn't a job, this is about helping somebody," Hoover said. "I just hope one day that these kids can pay it forward for somebody else."
awidmanneese@dispatch.com
@AlissaWidman
Related Posts
Chiefs cheerleaders, Miss MO Miss KS helped raise money for MOCSA - KCTV Kansas City- Mexico Pop Warner JV cheerleading team heading to nationals - oswegocountynewsnow.com
- Ole Miss grants leukemia survivor’s wish to be Rebels cheerleader for a game - Saturday Down South
- Cheerleading State Championship Preview - Atlanta Journal Constitution
- Seniors lead way for LHS cheerleading team - LaGrange Daily News - LaGrange Daily News