Players and coaches of the two teams in this year’s Orange Bowl Classic college football game will gather at the Hilton Miami Downtown on Dec. 28 for the 47th annual Orange Bowl Prayer Breakfast in support of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
Each year, Orange Bowl festivities include the Prayer Breakfast during which FCA honors student-athletes, coaches, and communities that are committed to making a difference in young people’s lives through faith and fellowship. And now is that time of year when prospective event sponsors go into a huddle to consider which level of support they will demonstrate.
In addition to individual tickets at $50 each, three sponsorship packages are available (register at www.miamifca.org):
Touchdown Sponsorship ($2,500) — Prime seating table for 10, table sign, full-page ad in the event program, and recognition at the event;
Field Goal Sponsorship ($1,500) — Preferred seating table for 10, table sign, half-page ad in the event program, and recognition at the event, and
Adopt-a-School ($500) — Help FCA enable student-athletes to experience the power of prayer and sports by sponsoring a table for your high school alma mater or an FCA high school of choice. Sponsors get a table for 10 students and recognition at the event.
This year’s keynote speaker is Steve Fitzhugh, who speaks to thousands each year throughout the country and abroad. His expertise transcends age as he can be found in a variety of venues impacting young and old through his gift of communication. His talks help people make positive choices in life.
Whether it is a high school or college campus, the corporate boardroom or an NFL locker room Fitzhugh’s passion for success and change moves, motivates and empowers. His style is fresh and humorous as he tells about his life in the NFL (Denver Broncos) and his own personal journey. He identifies with his audiences. He sees what they see; he feels what they feel, and he understands life’s challenges.
A native of Akron, OH, Fitzhugh graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School where he excelled as one of the top five hurdlers in the country. As a result of his success in track and football, he has been inducted into Walsh’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He became a scholarship athlete at Miami University of Ohio where he captained both the track and football teams while earning his BA in Public Administration.
Fitzhugh accepted a contract offer from the Denver Broncos of the NFL immediately after graduation. Sidelined by a shoulder injury after only two years, he began his Master of Divinity graduate studies at Howard University in Washington, DC, in 1987. After Divinity School, he went to Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, ND, where he began drug and alcohol prevention education throughout the public and private school systems.
Upon returning to Washington, DC, he launched PowerMoves where he is the executive director, leading young and old into success and significance. His presentations have included but are not limited to audiences at The White House, Capitol Hill, State Department and to leaders across all socioeconomic divides.
While in Washington, Steve co-founded “The House,” three renovated former crack houses now used as an after school teen drop-in center. The House serves as a safe place for the students of Southeast DC to learn life skills and discover their purpose. He also is the national spokesperson for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ “One Way 2 Play – Drug Free” program.
Today Fitzhugh is a certified NFL Engagement Coach, mentoring NFL rookies and retirees. And when not traveling you can find him at Covenant Village Retreat where he and his wife host groups and individuals of all demographics seeking rest, retreat and revitalization.
Fitzhugh is an author, poet, lyricist and master motivator. He lives life by a personal mantra, “Create a moment for life-change and any life can be changed in a moment.”
Founded in 1954, FCA currently is active on 8,500 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the U.S.
“We facilitate Bible studies for coaches and coordinate chaplains to serve with their teams,” said Noah Wilbanks, FCA’s South Florida director.
Formed in 1974, this chapter currently ministers on 120 school campuses in South Florida and has had the opportunity to mentor more than 1,000 at-risk youth who play sports and do not have fathers present in their lives.
“Our challenge is to turn the negative tide of what’s happening today within youth, schools, and sports,” Wilbanks said. “Too many of our young people are making wrong choices that carry with them disastrous consequences.
“The Prayer Breakfast is a great opportunity to shine light on the work that our organization is doing for our youth in the community and to those individuals who are committed to making a difference in young peoples’ lives,” Wilbanks added.
Doors open morning of Dec. 28 at Hilton Miami Downtown, 1601 Biscayne Blvd., at 6:45 a.m. and the program begins at 7:30. Register online at www.miamifca.org or send your check to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, PO Box 140594, Coral Gables, FL 33114. RSVP by Dec. 18.
If reservations are made by Dec. 12, tickets will be sent by U.S. Mail, otherwise they will be available at the will call desk the morning of the event. Seats and tables are assigned in order of date of reservations. For information and reservations, call 786-752-0845, or send email to nwilbanks@fca.org.
