History

1954	FCA incorporated by its founder, Don McClanen. Paul Benedum, Branch Rickey and other Pittsburgh businessmen underwrite the first year’s budget. Charter members included Otto Graham, Carl Erskine, Donn Moomaw and Rickey.
1956	First National Camp at Estes Park, Colo., with 256 athletes and coaches attending. FCA moves its national headquarters from Norman, Okla., to Kansas City, Mo.
1959	The Christian Athlete magazine is first published.
1960	Lake Geneva, Wis., joins Estes Park as the second FCA Camp site.
1964	Adult Chapter program begins. First National Camp at Black Mountain, N.C.
1966	Huddle program established.
1967	FCA holds eight National Camps with 4,700 participants.
1968	National Coaches Conferences initiated.
1969	FCA holds a record 16 National Camps with more than 7,000 attendees. FCA huddles exceed 1,000.
1972	Huddles exceed 1,500. Adult Chapters grow to 200. Full time-staffers increase to 23.
1974	National Conference Center (NCC) opens near Marshall, Ind. Women’s Ministry established.
1977	National Golf Ministry launches. Huddles increase to 2,000.
1978	FCA staff grows to more than 100. FCA holds 32 National Camps.
1979	National Headquarters Building and Chapel dedicated.
1982	Sharing the VICTORY magazine published, replacing *The Christian Athlete*.
1985	4,400 official Huddles and 220 FCA employees in 34 states.
1987	National Summer Camps held at 34 sites; 4,300 coaches and spouses at 17 National Coaches meetings.
1989	Four-court indoor gym dedicated at NCC. CHAD principle introduced. Some 40,000 athletes/coaches/adults official FCA members; 275 FCA staff in 42 states; 100,000 student athletes meeting in Huddles during school year.
1991	FCA produces a booklet dealing with drug abuse and introduces the “One Way 2 Play Drug Free” program and charter.
1993	Camp attendance exceeds 10,000. Huddles top 5,000 for the first time in history.
1994	320 staff members, an all-time high nationally. FCA’s 40th anniversary.
1995	13,048 attend FCA National Camps. FCA becomes established on the World Wide Web at www.fca.org.
1996	One Way to Play-Drug FREE! video is released. FCA celebrates 40 years of Camps at Estes Park, Colo.
1997	FCA presents its mission internationally with the ‘Global Initiative’. Huddles grow to 6,598.
1998	The Home Office announces the plan to more than double the size of the existing building. More than 10,000 golfers take part in the FCA National Golf Scramble.
1999	FCA receives 100,000 One Way 2 Play! commitments.
2000	Vice Presidential candidate Dick Cheney comes to FCA World Headquarters to endorse FCA and One Way 2 Play! program. -Groundbreaking on World Headquarters building expansion.
2002	Dedication of 59,000-square foot World Headquarters. -FCA introduces “4 C’s” concept (Coaches, Campus, Camps, Community)
2003	FCA Baseball Ministry launches. -FCA launches Team FCA membership program.
2004	FCA celebrates 50 years of ministry.
2005	Les Steckel named seventh FCA President/CEO.