Columbus Crew SC is far more than just a soccer team, and last night at the Medical Mutual Pillar Awards presented by Smart Business Magazine, that fact was reinforced with the club earning an award for its work in community service in 2014.
Crew SC players, staff and front office employees alike all pitched in as contributions to the award, with the club spending more than 900 hours in the community last year alone. The generosity displayed by the Black & Gold emanates from all levels of the organization, according to Homegrown defender Chad Barson.
"Guys are very receptive to doing community outreach programs, such as Matt Lampson, with his Lampstrong Foundation," said Barson, who was born in Columbus. "He really spearheads it and does a lot for the community. It's really a whole team effort. That goes for staff, coaching staff, technical staff, and it trickles down to the players."
Barson launched his Barson's Boots initiative in 2014, a program designed to donate new and gently used soccer gear to children in Columbus. The success of the program is just one of the many ways Crew SC strives to give back.
"I think that's something that [Crew SC] takes very seriously, community outreach and showing that we really care about the Columbus community. We're in this thing together and we're all about giving back. I'm very proud that Barson's Boots was so successful this past year. Obviously, growing up in Columbus, I'm proud of the community that I grew up in and I want to give back as much as possible. That's not just doing through things with [Columbus Crew SC], but in my own time doing things like volunteering at the children's hospital. I have for the past two-and-a-half years since I've been with [Crew SC], and it's not just me, it's all of the guys on the team."
The importance of giving back is not lost on other players on the club as well, and the club will continue to make it a priority in 2015 with the news that the community relations and charitable arm has evolved to Give Forward and the Columbus Crew SC Foundation.
"I think it is huge," said Hector Jimenez. "I know my time with LA; we were involved with the community a lot. So one of the things coming into Columbus was that I was going to try to contribute as much as I can to our community. I think that not only us players, but the front office should be really proud of that award."
"That's awesome," added Ben Speas, upon hearing the club was recognized for its commitment to the community. "That's just as important as what we do on the field, to give back to the community and the fans and everyone that supports us. I think that's really cool that we were recognized like that as a club. As much as the club does without even the players, it's awesome to see. All of the things that the players do as well, it just shows how much we care and how much it actually means to us."
