History

Sports World had its inception in the National Football League’s "chapel program" which its founder, Dr. Ira Lee Eshleman (pictured) helped to initiate in the late 1960s.

Through his 10-year involvement as the NFL’s Chaplain, he worked with scores of players and coaches through the chapel program. "Doc" soon realized the tremendous impact that professional football players had on America’s youth.

It was in 1978 that Sports World, Inc. began to schedule these NFL players into school assembly programs. Because of their athletic backgrounds, these players were able to capture the attention and hearts of students nationwide. Today, Sports World Pros are employed on a full-time basis. Each year they are able to challenge over a half million students, teachers, and administrators with the message of hope in schools nationwide.

Sports World’s mission is to "send former professional athletes to share personal life experiences with students, helping them to recognize the consequences of their choices while challenging them with the message of hope."