A 501 (c) (3) organization helping athletes, coaches and everyone in their circle of influence-peers, family members, fans-establish positive, ethical, moral and spiritual values.
For more than 55 years, Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been nurturing lives using a sports analogy and the influence that many sports figures can have as positive role models today. An estimated 1,800,000 lives are touched annually by FCA's programs. These include participants in Huddles, Adult Chapters, Camps, Bowl and NCAA championship event breakfasts, One Way 2 Play! rallies, and coaches' conventions.
Nationally there are nearly 7,000 student-led, student initiated groups, called Huddles, meeting in junior high, high school and college campuses. In addition, over 500 Adult Huddles serve as "Booster clubs" to the Huddles, providing encouragement, as well as manpower and financial support to the Huddles' needs. A function of the Adult Chapter is raising money for scholarships to send student-athletes and coaches to camps for a week of "inspiration and perspiration." Not only are campers given top quality instruction in their sport, but also in the game of life, learning leadership and other skills necessary to help them make good choices. During the summer of 2009, 46,944 attended 302 FCA camps.
An FCA program gaining national attention is the One Way 2 Play-Drug Free! alcohol and drug-abuse prevention project. Young people (not just student-athletes) across the nation are challenged to commit to abstaining from drugs and alcohol. Youth sign pledge cards and choose accountability partners who help them stay true to their pledges. The One Way 2 Play! program is presented at community rallies, school assemblies, Huddles and at camps. Often a professional or college athlete or coach is involved in making the One Way 2 Play challenge. More than 545,797 individuals have signed the pledge across the nation.