It may have started by meeting former French star Claude Makelele. Or it may be his mother’s influence, or his older brother’s example.
For whatever the reason, Atlanta United’s Jay Fortune devotes much of his free time each week giving back to the community through the team’s outreach efforts. He’s done so much work that the team nominated him for an end-of-the-season award for community outreach.
His work this season includes working with Atlanta United’s Unified team for special-needs teenagers and young adults, making youth soccer appearances, including two openings for mini-pitches being constructed around the state, helping design the club’s “Legacy Collection” of apparel that honors African American culture and Juneteenth and visiting children at the Arthur M. Blank Hospital, to name a few events.
“I think, growing up, you see how players interact with other people that are maybe sometimes not in as good a position as you are,” he said. “Growing up, seeing that was fun. It could bring a smile to your face.”
Fortune, who has made a career-high 26 appearances for Atlanta United this season, is among a group of 26 players nominated for the award, a group that includes New England’s Andrew Farrell and Columbus’ Darlington Nagbe, a former Atlanta United player. Voting for the awards ends Monday. Finalists are to be announced Oct. 24, but the date to reveal the winners hasn’t been announced by MLS.
In addition to his work in the community, Fortune has become a regular starter for Atlanta United. He has a career-high 12 starts, with two goals and an assist. He likely will be in the lineup for Saturday’s key match at Orlando. If Atlanta United wins, it has a slim chance of making the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
The first soccer interaction that Fortune remembers when he was younger was with Makelele, a standout for Real Madrid and Chelsea, among other teams. The former French national-team starter came to a training session and took photographs and signed autographs. Fortune said he still has the photograph and thinks he can find the autograph.
Again, it’s all about making a positive impression.
Fortune said his older brother Andre, who plays in the USL for Las Vegas, and his mom also have influenced his desire to help others. Fortune said Andre always was positive around teammates. He said his mother tries to help everyone, even if they may not need assistance.
“Me being able to to provide the fraction of that to other people – for example, going to the hospital – just want to be able to be around those type of players, and be around the type of people that can bring a smile to your face as well to my face.”
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter/X @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson
Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found
Apple — https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve
Spotify — https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C
Google podcasts — https://bit.ly/32KlZW3
If you are going to listen to the podcast for the first time, please follow it on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts … and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 404-526-2527.
Stay up to date every day on breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, sports, entertainment, food and dining and so much more by becoming a subscriber to the AJC. Go to AJC.com/start for a very special offer and unlock hundreds of original articles published daily on the refreshed AJC.com and the new AJC mobile app. Plus, access to our news alerts, subscriber-only events, AJC original shows, films and videos, newsletters, and so much more.
Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1
March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0
March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0
March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0
April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1
May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup
May 11 D.C. United 3, Atlanta United 2
May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0
May 18 Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1
May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in U.S. Open Cup
May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0
May 29 Atlanta United 3, Miami 1
June 2 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 2
June 15 Atlanta United 2, Houston 2
June 19 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0
June 22 Atlanta United 1, St. Louis 1
June 29 Atlanta United 2, Toronto 1
July 3 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
July 6 Real Salt Lake 5, Atlanta United 2
July 9 vs. Indy Eleven 2, Atlanta United 1
July 13 Montreal 1, Atlanta United 0
July 17 Atlanta United 2, NYCFC 2
July 20 Atlanta United 2, Columbus 1
July 26 D.C. United 3 (6), Atlanta United 3 (5) in Leagues Cup
Aug. 4 Santos Laguna 0 (5), Atlanta United 0 (3) in Leagues Cup
Aug. 24 L.A. Galaxy 2, Atlanta United 0
Aug. 31 Atlanta United 1, Charlotte 0
Sept. 14 Nashville 2, Atlanta United 0
Sept. 18 Atlanta United 2, Inter Miami 2
Sept. 21 Atlanta United 2, Red Bulls 2
Sept. 28 Atlanta United 1, Philadelphia 1
Oct. 2 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1
Oct. 5 Atlanta United 2, Red Bulls 1
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
About the Author
