COLUMBUS — Columbus Soccer Organization announced a new title sponsor on Saturday, unveiling a deal with BankFirst worth $15,000 to make them the primary sponsor for the organization’s recreational programs for the next three years.
BankFirst already sponsors CSO’s travel soccer program, Columbus United, and is now the primary sponsor of the CSO Recreational League and future summer camps and tournaments.
“It will mostly help our recreational program, but all of our programs, rec, TopSoccer, Adult League,” CSO Director Tom Velek said of the sponsorship. “Our objective is keeping costs at a level that is acceptable for everybody, and for that, we needed a corporate sponsor. We’ve worked productively with BankFirst in the past and are now announcing a three-year partnership with them to make them the title sponsor.”
BankFirst has been a main backer for recreational sports in the area since putting its headquarters in Columbus. Market President James Hazard stressed the importance of recreation as well as the company’s willingness to make a meaningful impact in the community as a primary motivator for partnering with CSO.
“Youth sports are so important because there are things you learn on the ball field that you can’t learn in a classroom,” Hazard said. “We’re investing in the future of Columbus and Lowndes County, but also in our citizens in general. It’s very important from our perspective, being headquartered here, to be visible.”
CSO currently supports a youth recreation program with more than 500 youths participating on teams. Additionally, CSO supports a TopSoccer program to allow children with disabilities a chance to play the game as well as the Columbus Adult Soccer League, which has more than 160 active players. The organization takes pride in keeping registration fees low, around $60 for children and $80 for adults, and is able to do so because of support from local businesses.
“We try hard to keep our registration costs low so that soccer isn’t out of reach for kids based off of the price alone,” CSO Board member Jessica Tackett said. “We have a lot of great small business sponsors, but it’s hard to meet the costs of running our programs. Having BankFirst sponsor us will help with those costs and allow us to keep fees low. We’re grateful to BankFirst for their generosity and I can’t wait to see their name on the back of all the jerseys out there.”
BankFirst’s corporate headquarters on Main Street is one of three Columbus locations for the company. The bank is building its corporate training center in the city.
The company has made an effort to support recreational and youth sports in the area and last year became the title sponsor of BankFirst Yards, the state-of-the-art baseball and softball fields on Highway 82. Hazard, a Columbus native, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony as BankFirst announced a commitment of $25,000 a year over 10 years to go into the general fund to help cover operating costs at the sportsplex.
“Anything that we do with CSO or BankFirst Yards has been a win-win-win,” Hazard said. “It’s a win for the organization we’re helping, a win for the bank from a publicity standpoint and it’s a win for the youth that it impacts. In soccer, I believe you’d call that a hat trick.”
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