NASHVILLE – Kickin’ It 615, an organization that provides cost-free recreational soccer for children, announced on Friday the appointment of Shelly Johnson as the organization’s new president, stepping into the role previously held by founder Valair Shabilla.
With the rising cost of youth soccer in Middle Tennessee, demand has never been higher for the organization, and Johnson, a longtime volunteer, is uniquely equipped to take Kickin’ It 615 into the next phase.
“I’ve been involved in our local soccer community for almost 30 years,” said Johnson, who began her work with Kickin’ It 615 in 2019. “It’s really important for me to give back and support the growth of the sport in our own community. At KI615, we will continue to introduce and make available the sport in underserved areas.”
“Becoming the president of this organization is an honor and a privilege that I don’t take lightly,” Johnson continued. “I hope that as we move forward, we will continue to grow and expand to get as many kids as possible to love soccer like I do.”
“Shelly has been integral to our success since she joined us,” Shabilla said. “We could not have experienced this level of growth without the work that she put in, and I’m really excited to see what she can accomplish in this new role.”
While no longer president, Shabilla will continue to serve on the board of directors.
Shabilla’s leadership helped build the volunteer-operated charity into a well-respected and admired youth sports organization in the Middle Tennessee region. Teams from the organization play in the Mid-State Youth Sports League, and unparalleled growth has led to record year after record year in terms of signups and participation. The organization recently celebrated the launch of “Kickin’ It After School,” which brings one-hour soccer clinics to local elementary schools.
Kickin’ It 615 is always looking for more who are interested in donating their time or money to the organization. For more information, please visit KI615.org or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @KickinIt615.