Help Build a Haven for Young Gymnasts

Hey ya’ll, my name is Alexandria (Ally) Koon and I am the owner of Grit and Grace Athletics, LLC.

My gymnastics journey began at the age of 2, where my parents placed me in a pre-competitive program. I competed compulsory gymnastics up until the age of 9. I lived a privileged young childhood. My parents were successful business owners in tree excavation & disaster cleanup. When the recession began to douse the flow of income in 2007, my parents could no longer afford for me to compete in gymnastics.

Sadly, in their depression & quest to work even harder to not be swallowed financially by the recession, my parents turned to substance abuse. This lead to a very difficult childhood for my siblings and I, plagued with domestic violence, emotional abuse and financial devastation.

The road came to a head when my mother’s life was taken by homicide on Thanksgiving of 2012. My siblings and I became orphans instantly due to the manner of her loss. All was lost. Their assets that were not in foreclosure scarcely covered many of the costs brought upon our extended family.

Graciously, I was given a scholarship to go back to competing gymnastics into the optional levels at a local Christian gym to which I owe everything. Not only did the gym provide me solace, but the staff provided me training for what would become my career and life mission: to share this passion for gymnastics, compassion for all, and God’s love and grace with everyone I meet.

Upon aging out of the home I was in, I joined the US Navy as a rescue swimmer with no finances or assets to my name, and nowhere to crash if I failed. I deeply enjoyed the sense of belonging the Navy gave me, where I later met my husband, who is still active duty. I exited the Navy under honorable conditions upon injury and we moved to Virginia Beach, where I resumed my coaching career.

We have worked relentlessly to make a life from scratch for our 4 beautiful children, putting in 105+ hr weeks for the last few years & working 3 jobs between the 2 of us while also having to be constant, active caregivers for two of our children with profound special needs, and do our best to save for this mission I have been called to.

I am so thankful to God, for what he has done in our lives so far, in allowing me to work hard enough to open Grit & Grace Athletics in mobile form, volunteer my services and equipment for our church, and be a refuge for my gymnasts. Even if GGA isn’t a refuge for many of these children from childhood situations like mine, then it is still refuge from a world demanding they grow up too fast and put their faith and focus in unimportant things. This is where I need your help in order to serve these children and their families, we need more permanent space and hours to reach as many of them as we can! My mission statement at GGA is to foster the growth of invaluable lifelong character traits including courage, self discipline and determination while providing developmentally appropriate and technically sound training in the sport of gymnastics, in a fun and uplifting environment.

The dream I’ve had of continuing to be part of this sport since I was a child, has been one that has kept me alive, filled me with fortitude & purpose, and allowed me to meet the needs of my children and others’. If you want to help us build Grit and Grace, not just the business, but as character hallmarks for the young people in Nassau & the surrounding counties, our athletes and myself will be forever grateful. All donations will go towards funding for a facility of our own, with any excess going towards providing new equipment to fill it. Thank you for all support and prayers as we embark on this new journey!