Director Needs Donations To Finish Film About All-Girls Soccer Team

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A filmmaker working on a documentary about an African American all-girls soccer team in Philadelphia needs help to raise funds by April 21st, or he won't be able to finish the film.

Filmmaker Eugene Martin found out about the Anderson Monarchs -- named after Marian Anderson and Jackie Robinson's Negro League team -- when the South Philadelphia team trounced his little girl's Chestnut Hill club.

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Martin said, "As I dug deeper, I realized how special they were. How these girls were changing their communities, their families were changing."

The film follows five girls, their families and their coach, "And the amazing thing about it is that they do it with virtually no money. I mean, the field that they play on, they have to share it with football teams, softball teams, and baseball teams."

But, he said, that's not keeping the girls back, "They're playing real competitive soccer at high levels and they're winning. And the same time, the club really emphasizes stay in school, academics and all of that."

Martin needs to raise $25,000 by April 21st at 2 p.m. to get matching funds to finish the film.  For more information, or to help, go to TheAndersonMonarchs.com

Reported by Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio 1060