Thoughts from our Board President, Arch Fuston

What inspires you to work for Every Kid Sports?
My relationship with Every Kid Sports spans well over a decade. The organization was the chosen non-profit for the corporate wellness program I led for a large organization for many, many years, and continues today. The commitment to Every Kid Sports (then, KIDS in the GAME) was the relevancy to the business and the brand of the organization. As well, the people-base of the organization were very “active,” which made them even more relevant. Their funding model was simple, the impact was made apparent, it was, and continues to be, the ideal fit.

Today, my relationship with Every Kid Sports is very different, however, the purpose remains relevant to me. As board president, it’s inspiring to help drive that impact beyond a single organization, and develop strategies and messaging that brings the purpose of the organization to life. What continues to fuel this are the outcomes inherent in playing youth sports: making social connections, developing emotional leadership, and the formation of a love for being active that we can take with us further into life. The opportunity to bring this possibility of play to this specific population is incredibly meaningful.

What has sports brought to your life?
With the exception of my wedding day, sport has been the source of my life’s highlight reel. From finishing IRONMAN Hawaii, to playing in a national championship match, to that first Pop Warner football game, my most cherished memories are sport/activity-related. Sport has been the finder of friends, the outlet for emotions, the cultivator of drive, determination, and physical development. It’s also been the source of opposites: performance-based shame and ego-driven competitiveness that can (and did) suck the fun out of it all. Yet, it’s this myriad of emotions inherent in sport that makes it such a rich, formative experience. It’s a gift that keeps on giving throughout our lives if we so choose to participate in them. I continue to learn about myself, grow myself, expand myself through sport.

“When people align on a shared intention and are focused on sharing in the experience of bringing that intention to life, it makes for a very special moment in time.
Sports can mirror that.”

Teamwork
Over the course of my career, I’ve experienced segments within organizations that truly embody the idea of “teamwork.” Every Kid Sports, as a whole, embodies this. When people align on a shared intention and are focused on sharing in the experience of bringing that intention to life, it makes for a very special moment in time. Sports can mirror that. The teams that are most successful have players that have fun, care a great deal, are driven by purpose, not performance, and genuinely account for the well-being of everyone involved. From the Every Kid Sports team to our board of directors, this non-profit organization is the epitome of a team. I like to think of it as being a “corporate athlete,” and Every Kid Sports is full of them, all aligned in helping kids from low-income families experience the positive benefits of playing.