- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Using the Influence of Sports to Encourage Learning, Growth and Character Development https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/77383?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/77383?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/77383?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Using the Influence of Sports to Encourage Learning, Growth and Character Development&body=ESG News from America's Charities https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/77383?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives](/CSR-News/philanthropy-cause-initiatives) # Using the Influence of Sports to Encourage Learning, Growth and Character Development Dec 12, 2016 2:00 PM ET Campaign: [Connecting Business to Cause](/news/campaign/connecting-business-cause) ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/images/XC-JonahLindsay-0984.jpg) [America's Charities CSR Blog](http://bit.ly/2hFudSp) The influence of sports and the platform that athletes and coaches have is tremendous in our society. We are captivated by sports! [Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)](http://www.fca.org/) uses this influence to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and to encourage positive character traits such as integrity, serving, teamwork and excellence. > ***“We live in a sports-crazy society where athletes have the chance to be role models and tone-setters. I look at the world of professional sports, where I’ve spent so many years, and I see that today it’s out of bounds. FCA is hard at work becoming the heart and soul in sports. We want to put Christian character back between the lines…The potential to influence lives for Christ through FCA is boundless.” – Les Steckel, FCA President/CEO in his book One Yard Short*** Sports provide an opportunity for learning, growth and character development. Young athletes in today’s society face challenging situations such as win-at-all-cost attitudes, anger management, attitudes of entitlement, and self-worth based on win-loss records. Add to that the challenges of navigating home, social and school relationships, and the pressures can seem insurmountable. Some athletes will successfully navigate these situations. Others may turn to risky behavior to escape. FCA is here to come alongside coaches and athletes in their daily lives with encouragement and resources. We focus on the 4 C’s of ministry: Camps, Campus, Coaches and Community. Our hope is to instill the core values of Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence in young athletes and their coaches. FCA’s vision is “to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.” **Investing in FCA is Investing in the Youth of Today** Through FCA, coaches and students in the US and around the world are experiencing a deeper relationship with Christ and others. Additionally, many individuals are growing in their personal faith, developing leadership skills and learning to share their faith in the classroom and on the playing field. Investing in FCA is investing in the youth of today, including the influence they will have today and for years to come. As a donor, you can support FCA by donating to Fellowship of Christian Athletes through your employer’s workplace giving program (CFC# 10987 if you're a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign). Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a cost effective and near effortless way to support FCA’s work. Every donation matters! $10 can provide a Bible for a coach or athlete, while $100 can change the life of a student athlete by providing them with a partial scholarship to sports camp. As an employer, you can leverage the collective giving power of your employees by starting a workplace giving program to support FCA. [Click here](https://www.charities.org/employee-giving-large-small-business-solutions-stf) to learn more about America’s Charities’ portfolio of solutions designed to help large and small organizations give back to the causes they care about. To learn more about FCA, visit [www.fca.org](http://www.fca.org/). [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/logo_AmericaCharities_vertical_RGB.jpg)](/profiles/americas-charities) ### More from America's Charities ###### [$1 Billion in Giving: America’s Charities Reaches a Historic Milestone](/news/1-billion-giving-americas-charities-reaches-historic-milestone) Mar 16, 2026 8:00 AM ET ###### [Make the Holidays More Meaningful: Engage Your Team With Employee Giving](/news/make-holidays-more-meaningful-engage-your-team-employee-giving) Sep 15, 2025 8:10 AM ET ###### [Help Make-a-Wish Deliver Hope to Children With Critical Illnesses. 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