Terminus Legion Recognized for Community Work at ISC Annual Conference

When the Independent Supporters Council named Terminus Legion its Philanthropic Group of the Year at the 2026 Annual Conference, the recognition reflected years of steady, intentional work rather than a single standout moment.

For Community Outreach Director Jason Wells, the honor carried personal meaning, but also reaffirmed a broader direction the group has been working toward.

“It gives me some validation that we’re on the right track,” Wells said. “When I campaigned for the board in 2023, one of my main goals was getting our community outreach and service efforts back to where they were before the pandemic, and hopefully beyond.”

In 2025, Terminus Legion took a more deliberate approach to community partnerships. Rather than limiting involvement to donations alone, the group committed to engaging each partner in three ways: fundraising at official tailgates and events, providing visibility and awareness through hosted tables and tents, and volunteering together at nonprofit locations or events. The goal was to form real relationships and stay involved beyond a single appearance.

That structure supported a wide range of efforts throughout the year. Terminus Legion members logged more than 430 volunteer hours across 14 organized service events, including work with foster care nonprofits, food security organizations, animal shelters, and soccer access initiatives. Members supported tournaments with Soccer in the Streets that collectively raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for fields, programs, and leagues in underserved communities, while also contributing time and presence at events across the city.

One of the most meaningful new partnerships was with GiGi's Playhouse Atlanta, a local Down syndrome advocacy organization. The connection was personal for many members, as one of Terminus Legion’s longtime members has Down syndrome. After months of planning and coordination, the group helped organize the inaugural GiGi’s Day at a matchday, hosting approximately 80 families for a tailgate and a doubleheader featuring Atlanta United and a Unified match. Families were provided tickets, parking, food, games, and a full matchday experience at no cost, with support from the Atlanta United front office.

Terminus Legion also continued long-standing work with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, raising funds and collecting food at multiple tailgates before volunteering in person to sort more than 15,000 pounds of donations. With growing food insecurity in the region, Wells said this is a partnership the group intends to maintain moving forward.

Animal welfare played a role as well through partnerships with Lifeline Animal Shelter and DeKalb County Animal Services. In addition to fundraising and supply drives, members volunteered on site, hosted an adoption event at a tailgate, and helped several dogs find permanent homes.

Across all initiatives, Wells emphasizes that the work is driven by the membership.

“Our pillars are Support, Service, and Community,” he said. “Our members show up knowing their time and money are going toward something meaningful. They volunteer, they donate, and they even help us find new partners.”

For Wells and Terminus Legion, community outreach is not separate from being supporters. It is part of the responsibility that comes with visibility.

“When we’re out volunteering, we’re representing more than ourselves,” Wells said. “We’re ambassadors for the club and for the game. Building those connections strengthens the community and strengthens us too.”

The ISC recognition put a spotlight on work Terminus Legion has been quietly committed to all along.