It’s all about the kids. Always has been, always will be.

For seven decades, the Hazel Crest Mustangs football and cheerleading program has provided young people with chances to play, grow as an athlete and gain valuable life lessons.

That’s the way it was when Phillip Wilkes got involved 24 years ago, and nothing has changed during that time. Wilkes is the president of the club, located in Hazel Crest and now in its 69th year.

Phillip Wilkes is proud of the family atmosphere that surrounds the Hazel Crest Mustangs. | Submitted

“We’re family, we’re a family-oriented organization. We’re family-first, football and cheerleading second,” he told Southland Marquee. “Our goal is mentorship through sports. We’re lucky enough, 90% of my coaching staff played here as kids, so they’re coming back to pay it forward.”

Some of the players and cheerleaders are fourth-, fifth- and sixth-generation Mustangs. They normally have up to 250 participants from ages 5 years to 14 years. The levels of play were 6 and under 6U (5-6), 8U (7-8), 10U (9-10), 12U (11-12) and 13U (13-14)-8th grade, but 7U, 9U & 11U teams have been added, giving dozens of kids a chance to suit up.

The Mustangs' football organization is a 501.3c non-profit organization that has been able to serve the community without the benefit of any sponsors. All the coaches — there are 40 — and everyone else involved in the program, including Wilkes and the board members, are volunteers.

He has some involvement on the field, especially with the 10U team.

“You know, I stick my head in here and there,” he said. “Most of my stuff is administrative.”

The teams play in the Northern Illinois United Youth Football League, getting in nine regular season games and three playoff games. They have been successful on the gridiron, as the 2021 10U team won a state championship.

But that’s a bonus, Wilkes said.

“Those are 250 kids that are engaged in constructive activity, learning active life lessons, you know, be involved in something other than mischief,” he said. “I think how the community benefits from us is immeasurable. We practice four days a week, on game days we’re at the field for up to eight and a half hours, and that’s these kids plus their families. I mean, we’ve got mothers and fathers out there, sisters and brothers, grandmothers and grandfathers. On a given weekend, we have thousands of individuals coming out to view the games.”

The Mustang website explains the program’s goals: “Over the years, we have produced many outstanding student athletes, many of which have gone on to graduate college; becoming model citizens in their community. Many of our staff members grew up in the area, participating as players and cheerleaders. We are proud of the years of service that we have provided to the surrounding community and its residence. As an organization, we take a hands on approach in our players lives, becoming mentors, life coaches and in some cases father and mother figures. This is not just about the sport, but we look to incorporate life skills through extra-curricular activity. Not only are we like family, we all ‘Bleed Blue!’”

Wilkes is in the midst of preparing the budget for the 2023 season. It will be around $65,000, maybe as high as $68,000. The money comes from fundraising events and player registration, which is just underway now.

It takes plenty of cash to provide helmets, pads and uniforms for scores of kids, and the cheerleaders need uniforms and accessories as well. Last year, 88 girls cheered on the teams. The Mustangs also provide trophies and hold an annual banquet.

Wilkes is glad to see them back on the field. In 2020, the season was canceled because of the COVID pandemic, as well as the cultural and social upheaval in the nation following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.

“We got together as a staff. We decided as a body that we would come together and do everything possible to offer those kids camp,” Wilkes said. “So for 2020 we had football and cheer camp that basically ran June through the beginning of school in August.”

He said no one knew exactly what kind of risk was involved.

“But we just felt like we needed to do something to provide kids in our community with some sense of normalcy, where they can get out of the house and engage in play again, be involved in constructive activities,” Wilkes said.

Returning to a regular schedule has been a slow process to rebuild and restore the traditional activities, he said. Some families came back in 2021, and some new ones joined. The same thing happened in 2022.

“We’re looking to grow even more this year,” Wilkes said.

Wilkes said he is keeping an eye on redevelopment plans for Calumet Country Club.

“I am aware of what's going on there,” he said. “And as a president of a football organization, I can’t help but being intrigued about the prospect of having a facility right here in the village of Hazel Crest. As a 24-year community activist, the opportunity of having jobs right here at Hazel Crest would be equally appealing. My understanding is they’re going to have an enclosed facility that would be multi-sports use. The thing that intrigues me is the football. I think I've seen a mock-up where they had up to eight or nine basketball courts.”

The addition of a water park, shopping options and more jobs would all be beneficial to the community.

Wilkes, 63, is a retired Postal Service worker. He grew up in Lawndale on the far west side of Chicago and didn’t play for the Mustangs.

“No,” Wilkes said. “I wish I’d had something like this when I was a kid.”

But his son Jonathan was a Mustang, and Wilkes has seen thousands of boys and girls take part in football and cheerleading. The program has had girls suit up and take to the gridiron. One played linebacker and line, and another was a quarterback.

Wilkes is a big football fan, and he enjoys watching the games and seeing the teams improve and compete. But mostly, he wants to do something to help kids.

Why?

“You know, on occasion, I ask myself the same question. But, when I was a youth and growing up on the west side of Chicago, there was no one that really took time out to teach us, teach me, anything. There were youth activities, but there were no real youth programs. I mean, we had Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts.

“So having an opportunity to lead that, and particularly in my own community, to offer that mentorship, to teach our kids about citizenship, to be involved with my neighbors. In 24 years, there’s not a place I go or thing I go within the village of Hazel Crest I don’t bump into someone I know. We’re up to about 10,000 kids at this juncture. I think that for me, I'm doing my part to bind the community and hopefully build a better neighborly environment.”