Brandon is the President of the North Atlanta Giants, but he is also a coach, mentor, and parent. Brandon used his own funds to bring high-level football to the North Atlanta area. Brandon not only gives his money and time to ensure ALL players/families are well-educated and supported in football and life. Brandon has often opened his home to provide care for players and a safe place to live and learn. He is often caring for players in his home and enroll them in the local school to give them a better/safer environment. Families have listed him as a point of contact for schools and Brandon regularly checks up on players at school to ensure they are not having issues at school. Often, he is the first point of contact if there are concerns with a player in school. Brandon Jacobs having minimal growing up himself was able to find his way through football and to make a life for himself and his family playing in the NFL. Brandon is not one of those just writing checks for a foundation, but he has spent his time since retiring directly helping and becoming a critical factor for the success of so many players and families. Brandon Jacobs is known for his big personality during his playing days, but his big personality is overshadowed by his bigger heart for all the families fortunate enough to have met him. He is responsible for positively influencing so many players and families. He is so deserving of the recognition.

…He then began to work on the registration process, which currently used an outdated system of mailing in documents. Darrel created a website and electronically fillable registrations that was mobile friendly to provide easier registration and payment. Additionally, he created sections in the website to purchase uniforms, view upcoming training opportunities, and a coached portal to view player profiles. Identifying the need to raise capital for the season, he established the club as a non-profit and tax exempt organization. In January 2022, he developed relationships with the schools in our district to provide information about registering and discuss the opportunities of the club. With his efforts, he increased the club participation size by 50%. In previous years, while coaching, there were always issues with field availability. The only field available to play was managed by the local high school, which prevented the ability to host games and practice. Darrel wanted to develop a field for dedicate use by his club, but was told by many locations that is was not possible. However, he continued to pursue this challenge and create something for his club. Working with his Town Council, he presented an option to increase field size of the local youth field and request dedicated use during the season. He provided the Town Council with a seven page proposal, which included requested changes, additions, benefits, and revenue generation. The same day of the proposal, the Town unanimously voted to make initial changes. These changes included, extending field length, adding parking, the installation of ball stops for each goal, and the dedicated use of two fields…

…Now that he was able to secure two fields for use, he then started working on acquiring equipment for the fields. He was able to procure two sets of goals that were no longer in use from the school district. The goals were rusted and in need of repair. He sanded, painted, and purchased new nets for the goals. He then salvage old benches, repaired, and painted them for use as player benches. He also requested old bleachers in disrepair from the local baseball fields. He sanded, repaired, and repainted the bleachers. Once the fields were extended, he worked with another parent to survey and establish field corners for each field. Darrel then purchased a field lining kit and paint to start the marking of the field. He still paints the lines himself every week, sometimes with the another volunteer. Never having a concession, he obtained a food service license and established a concession for use during home games. He also worked with a local rental company to rent generator lights for nigh time play, free of charge. He has also presented the Chamber of Commerce with a request to purchase a permanent lights, electricity, and a permanent structure to provide concessions and storage of equipment. He has been essential in obtaining funding and equipment for the club. The Town has donated close to $15,000.00, local companies $6,000.00, Chamber $9,000.00, and raised over $4,000.00 all to establish and create a new home for the club. He has donated all his time without receiving any form of compensation, usually spending close to 20 hours a week managing the club. The local newspaper has even completed a couple news articles about what he has accomplished. In the period of six months, he accomplished much:

• Increased player participation by %50
  
• Designed and implemented a new uniform
  
• established two soccer fields
  
• raised over $20,000.00 in donations to benefit the kids in his club.

Darrel had really dedicated all his free time to ensure the kids in his club have the best experience. Additionally, he still assists in coaching.

It’s hard to put into words the devotion Tanya has to our local youth and our sports program. Tanya enrolled her son in KYSA over 10 years ago. KYSA sponsors Basketball, Baseball, Football and Cheer. Before joining the board Tanya acted as Team Mom. From bandaging and icing “owies”, keeping score, ensuring parents were informed, planning end-of-season events and all the in-between. Working full-time and commuting to Seattle daily, she also made time to be part of our local Elementary school PTA and eventually middle school. In fact, she still manages the annual tie-dye event at the Elementary school that her son aged out of 8 years ago.

7-years ago, she moved into the Treasurer role on the KYSA board. But the roll she plays in KYSA goes far beyond bookkeeping and writing checks. On top of ensuring we are a financially healthy organization she also manages to run our snack shack during practices and games, buy and stock the food and supplies in our snack shack, manages and oversees the process of Football equipment check-out, always remembers to bring the first aid and extra ice packs to our games, is the first one to volunteer herself when any request is mentioned, shows up to almost all practices and games… and most importantly, truly cares about the kids and their experience with sports.

Her son aged out of KYSA over 4 years ago, yet when our league did not have a coach for the 6-8 year old baseball team last season, her husband Leroy and herself stepped in as Coach and Assistant coach (on top of managing her current role on the board). Tanya performs nearly a full-time job ensuring KYSA is successful.

When we had a few holes in our board last season, she filled in as registrar and was up till midnight the night before our first game ensuring we received all the verification paperwork needed so all our players were cleared to play in their first game. She didn’t have to do that, she could have put the blame on the parents, but the thought of a child not being able to play because their parents didn’t file the right paperwork in time made her beyond sad for the kids. She went above and beyond so no kid was left behind.

Even a broken leg doesn’t stop this woman!

She is who inspired me to get involved with KYSA, and I look to her to learn the ropes. Her passion is what helps drive KYSA to new levels. And she does it all without expecting ANYTHING in return.

It’s an honor to share what makes Tanya so special. I believe KYSA would not be where it is today without Tanya leading the way.

Maria continues to manage two teams at our club even though her son is now playing at another club at the ECNL level. She didn’t want to leave the coach and kids without leadership when no one stepped up to take over. Managing 32 players from a distance has been difficult for her, but she never ceases to amaze us even being so present when on another field. She calls, sends messages to the team throughout the game and we feel we can hear her cheering via message. She continually amazes us with her kindness and all she does for all the teams under her wing. She has secured multiple sponsorships over the years to pay for most of the tournament costs for our kids in order to allow them to travel and experience away tournaments they may not have been able to attend. She has been actively involved in all community relations for our club and her new club. This moment putting together our 50th year celebration. She is the best manager ever!!!! Her kindness goes way beyond the pitch and in the community as an amazing educator who represented our county this year as the ESOL Teacher of the year for Rockdale County Schools. Her love of her students, dedication for her staff, and her overall leadership across our community is a sign of how truly wonderful she is to us all.

…Vanessa, who is Venezuelan, wants to get more kids from more backgrounds involved with soccer. She noticed that there are many Latinx families moving to Montana from places like Venezuela, Honduras and Mexico and she wanted to give them a way to become part of the Gallatin Valley Community. Nothing builds community and connection like sport and we have found that this program is powerful for all of our athletes.

Vanessa’s work as Technical Director has focused on creating opportunity for higher level play for youth athletes in Montana by helping to found new regional leagues, finding valuable guest playing opportunities for athletes, and working with the our state’s youth soccer leadership to update policies and practices to match where soccer is going in other states.

Vanessa is creating significant impact for our local and regional soccer communities!

…Vanessa, who is Venezuelan, wants to get more kids from more backgrounds involved with soccer. She noticed that there are many Latinx families moving to Montana from places like Venezuela, Honduras and Mexico and she wanted to give them a way to become part of the Gallatin Valley Community. Nothing builds community and connection like sport and we have found that this program is powerful for all of our athletes.

Vanessa’s work as Technical Director has focused on creating opportunity for higher level play for youth athletes in Montana by helping to found new regional leagues, finding valuable guest playing opportunities for athletes, and working with the our state’s youth soccer leadership to update policies and practices to match where soccer is going in other states.

Vanessa is creating significant impact for our local and regional soccer communities!

I am responding to an email about the nomination I made for Jon Furness. I am thrilled to hear that he has been selected as a finalist for the MVP award. He is an integral part of our region and the lives of the kids who play soccer in our town. His positive attitude and willingness to step in and help out whenever and wherever is needed is so amazing. He is a father of four kids, a husband, and a small business owner and still makes time to give back to the community and share his contagious love of soccer with the kids and families who live here. He motivates our volunteer referees every week with fun emails and videos asking them to sign up to help out and is by and large successful at getting people to step up and volunteer for a job that many people don’t want to do because of a variety of reasons. On the field he is a teacher and a mentor to others – he teaches the kids the rules of the game in a fair and firm manner and I often hear parents remarking at how much they appreciate the way he talks to the kids and teaches them as they play. I am proud to call him a friend and to have shared coaching and refereeing with him over the years. He makes my job as regional commissioner easier and for that I am grateful.