Sports, The SOS Factor

The ultimate value of sports - what is it? 

Is it the ability to succeed despite all odds?  Or not giving up in the face of adversity?  How about hard work really pays off? 

No doubt there are many experts that tout the benefits of sports. 

Jordan D. Metzl, M.D., one of America's premier pediatric sports physicians and co-founder and medical director of The Sports Medicine Institute for Young Athletes, says in his book The Young Athlete, “Kids usually get the benefits they seek from sports and more.  Kids need attention and respect (in that order), but they have few ways to get them.  What is unique about sports is that they offer kids an arena where they can earn attention and respect.” 

Respect

Based on two long-time supporters and former beneficiaries of the youth sports charity, Clearwater for Youth (CFY), a 40-year organization that has helped thousands of children get a chance to play sports no matter their economic status, respect seems to be a common denominator.  Respect of self, respect of others and more importantly…

Respect of Society

Bill Fisher of Fisher & Associates, an Architectural Firm practicing in the Southern US from Pennsylvania to Florida, used to play football for Clearwater for Youth when CFY first was getting started.  “As a young kid it gave us something to do - [sports] funneled a lot of energy in a positive way.”

Seven years after graduating college, Fisher came back and volunteered to be on the Board of Directors for CFY.  “I owed something back.  CFY helped focus me, it was a positive experience and I wanted to make it available to others.”

Fisher says it’s the relationships he fostered in his youth through sports that have been the most meaningful to him.  “Sports taught me a sense of society,” Fisher said.  Those relationships and the ability to meet varied groups of people in youth sports has served him well.  “People that I knew in CFY sports so many years ago, I know, trust and deal with on a daily basis still today.”  It is that sense of society to Fisher that has been the biggest take-away from his participation in youth sports.

Fisher’s sense of community and respect for society extends to more areas than just CFY.  He and his wife both focus on youth type charities and have worked with various youth activities, such and The Long Center and its development, Clothes for Kids and the Children’s Home Society.  

Needless to say, all the Fisher family children also play sports: football, lacrosse and volleyball.

The SOS Factor

The Sense-Of-Society factor does not seem to be singular to just Bill Fisher.  Sports has been a long-time catalyst for many of the Sports Greats as their vehicle to give back to society, leaving a permanent mark on the world for their humanitarian and leadership accomplishments.  Arthur Ashe was a tennis champion and humanitarian.  Billie Jean King is an advocate for women in sports and champion tennis player.  Darrell Green started a foundation to help underprivileged kids better their futures and become strong leaders.  Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball.  Michael Jordan can do anything with a basketball, and is admired on and off the court.  Mickey Mantle created a foundation to help people needing organ transplants.  Roberto Clemente was a baseball great and a selfless humanitarian.  Troy Aikman is an NFL legend and sponsor of children's charities.  And Jamie Moyer is an All-Star Major League Baseball pitcher who founded the Moyer Foundation, known for generous support to children during times of distress. 

The SOS Factor extends to another Clearwateran, Gary Connors, owner of Your Auction, Inc. and the area’s foremost auctioneer for used car dealers, selling a used car at his auctions every 45 seconds.  He too was a former CFY beneficiary, who remembers it was the volunteers that made the biggest impressions on him, who spent countless evenings and weekends coaching his football team when he was in elementary school.

“That taught me that, in life, you have to give to get,” said Connors, “I definitely knew that the adults were there because they volunteered and not because they had to be.”  Those volunteers instilled appreciation and respect in Connors, not only because they donated their time giving back to their society, but also for the sport itself and the life lessons acquired.  “I also learned that hard work paid dividends,” Connors said.

Connors, like Fisher, also gives back to the community in many other ways, working with organizations like UPARC, Hospice, the Morton Plant Mease Foundation and more.

The Common Denominator

When kids are asked why they play sports, they usually say it’s to have fun, improve or learn new skills, to succeed, win or to become physically fit.  But you will also find as a common denominator the need or want to be with their friends or make new friends.  The SOS Factor could be one of the biggest underestimated ingredients to the reasons sports are so beneficial for children - yet is something CFY has known for years and is the reason for its dedication to its mission.

Maybe it is best said by another one of the greats himself, the famous American boxing cornerman,  best known for his work with Muhammad Ali, and 15 other world boxing champions:

 “It is a great honor to be associated with Clearwater for Youth and the youngsters they support,” said Angelo Dundee, “My life has been spent taking young kids off the street and into the gym…sports is a wonderful way to learn life lessons."

Consequently, Ali and Angelo have both devoted themselves to humanitarian endeavors around the globe.  

More Than Just a Game

Sports is more than just a game.  It is the thread, the rope that ties society together.  It builds and is weaves society together in far more places than initially seen. 

About Clearwater for Youth:

Clearwater for Youth (CFY) was incorporated as a not-for-profit, tax-deductible organization, in 1972, to help its community youth reach their fullest potential through enriching and productive activities.  Thousands of children and dedicated volunteers have participated in a variety of CFY sports activities throughout the years.  The focus of CFY has always been supporting programs that encourage character building, sportsmanship and teamwork.  At one time, CFY was in charge of a myriad of programs that boys and girls participated in such as football, cheerleading, baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, karate, golf and more.  Today, to help ensure that no child is turned away due to financial concerns, CFY encourages youth sports in the community by offering scholarship opportunities, grants and matching funds to youth programs and participants in need.  CFY’s mission has never wavered nor has their philosophy, “building character through sports.”  CFY believes today as it did over 35 years ago that there is no better investment than an investment in our youth, the leaders of tomorrow.  CFY’s Annual Sports Celebrity Banquet has been graced by many well-known local and national celebrities, including Joe DiMaggio, Mike Alstott and Tom Lasorda.  To find out more or to help, visit http://www.clearwaterforyouth.org/