Allison McKinley, a local school teacher and dedicated member of the Greater Columbus Golden Boys and Girls (GCGBAG), is the Columbus Sports Community Champion recipient for summer 2025. As a member of GCGBAG, Allison not only shares her love of About GCGBAGColumbus soccer, but also her passion for outreach within her community. Allison’s love for her city is evident through her involvement with various local organizations such as Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS), and Final Third Foundation (F3).

GCGBAG helps organizations such as CRIS and F3 through raising money for various needs, whether that be school supplies, money for food, gas cards or holiday gifts. Allison believes soccer is just what GCGBAG and these organizations have in common and how they’re able to initially connect, and from there they are able to provide support to these organizations. 

Q: What inspired you to get involved with GCGBAG? 
My friends and I all have a really combined passion for supporting the community. Within GCGBAG we are really deep within Columbus, we have teachers, nurses, social workers, people who work for Franklin County in our group. Our community as a supporter group is one that really stands behind the important things in our community anyway as our full time job. So, it was really easy for me when we all came together, thinking how can we give back? We have this platform and this purpose, how can we channel it into something? So we all combined our skills. That's really what inspired me. I saw that there was a need, and I have a huge support system that works really closely with me to help us do events and fundraise. And we have a ton of fun, so it's not even like work. I was inspired because all of the people around me are just as passionate to help support the community, so it made it really easy for me to take charge of these events, since everyone is willing to pitch in.  

Q: What role do you think sports play in a vibrant community? 
A: It’s the thing that can really bring people across cultures together. Especially with soccer…. it's so important that we cultivate [sports], because that's what ultimately helps us find common ground with people who aren't like us. It's one of the only things that sometimes people can agree on. It opens conversations. Sports has brought me a connection with my Columbus community, more than just watching the sport itself. 
 

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Q: How do you see or quantify success for GCGBAG? 
A: It’s measured when I get told that something that we’ve done has impacted a family. When the people who we are working with tell us that they absolutely loved the gifts they received from the holidays. One family told me that the money we raised for them made the difference in them paying rent. The impact that we have in the community is how we measure success. We've worked with CRIS for years, and so the fact that they keep wanting us back means we must be doing something right. For me, the way I can see success is the fact that there are communities out there with a need, and we are filling it, and they are happy. That's what makes me know we are being successful. 

Q: What legacy do you hope to leave through your work? 
A: I hope to inspire the everyday person. I don't run a nonprofit, I don’t work for a nonprofit, I'm just an average person everyday who wants to work to fill a need in my community because I see it. I want people to know that it is possible to do these things, and that every small effort that you make makes a big difference for these families and these organizations that we work with. I hope the legacy I leave is to inspire other people. It is possible, there is a need in the community, and small acts will help make a difference for these families. I want to inspire people; if [you] see a need in [your] community, you can fill it. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone that would like to make a difference in their community, and needs help getting started? 
A: Different organizations are always at fairs, Franklinton Fridays, Grandview Hops, all different kinds of opportunities. I would say the best thing to do is just start talking to someone, find an organization that you feel really strong to support and reach out, open up the lines of communication because they’re always seeking support. If you build those relationships with them, it stops feeling like you're doing any work for them and you're really just helping your community in a way that's so fun and rewarding.