06/01/2026
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐
๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ: ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ
By Robert Lockett
HOUMA-For many young athletes, football is more than just a sport. It becomes a safe place, a lesson in discipline, and sometimes even a path toward a better future. That belief is exactly what inspired Craig Billiot, Jr. and his friend and partner Tariq Steward to create the Sed Allis Project, a nonprofit focused on giving underserved kids access to free football camps, mentorship, and opportunities they may never have otherwise received.
Craigโs love for football began when he was around nine or ten years old. Like many kids growing up in Louisiana, football quickly became part of his everyday life. As a longtime Saints fan, he experienced both the excitement and heartbreak that comes with loving the game, but the sport always kept his attention and passion.
That passion eventually evolved into something much bigger. In the Fall of 2024, Craig and Tariq started coaching flag football together. What started as simply helping kids on the field soon turned into something more meaningful. Through coaching, Craig discovered how much he enjoyed mentoring young athletes and teaching them lessons that extended beyond football.
โCoaching gave me a different purpose,โ he explained. โIt showed me how much these kids need guidance, positivity, and somebody who believes in them.โ While coaching, Craig noticed a major issue facing many families in Louisiana. Elite football camps and training opportunities were becoming too expensive for many kids to attend. Programs like the Manning Passing Academy can cost between $900 and $1,200 once registration, travel, and lodging are included. For many families, those prices make participation nearly impossible.
Instead of simply recognizing the problem, Craig and Tariq decided to do something about it. The idea for the Sed Aliis Project came during a conversation at a Tulane football game. The two discussed how many talented kids in areas between New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette were being overlooked because they lacked access to camps, mentorship, and exposure. Tariq helped complete the paperwork needed to officially establish the nonprofit, and the organization quickly began finding ways to support young athletes.
โNon Sibi, Sed Allisโ carries a deeper meaning as well. According to Craig, the name comes from a Latin phrase meaning โnot for self, but for others.โ That message reflects the entire mission of the organization.
Since launching the nonprofit, the group has already started making an impact. One of their first major activities involved taking several youth football players to a college football game, giving them an experience many had never had before. The organization also noticed a major gap in affordable opportunities for high-school athletes during the summer. In 2025, Craig said they identified around six camps and helped kids attend four of them.
Unlike many programs whose sole focus is athletics, the Sed Aliis Project places equal importance on mentorship and character development. Craig said the organization constantly emphasizes positivity, gratitude, perseverance, and self-belief when working with young athletes.
โWe want kids to know they can do more than what people expect from them,โ Craig said. โA lot of these kids just need somebody to believe in them.โ
Spots have quickly filled for the one-day camp. It kicks off June 20 from 7:30 AM to Noon. But, participants can join the waitlist by emailing [email protected]. Send a message including the participantโs name, grade level, and position.
For Craig, the project is about leaving a lasting impact beyond wins and losses. He hopes people remember him as someone who gave his full effort to helping others and creating opportunities for kids who may not normally receive them.
In communities where resources can sometimes feel limited, programs like the Sed Allis Project provide more than just sports instruction. They offer encouragement, mentorship, and hope. By removing financial barriers and focusing on service, Craig and Tariq are proving that football can be used as a tool to inspire and uplift the next generation.
