From Pain to Purpose: How the CJ Dickey Foundation Is Building Legacy Through Opportunity, Awareness, and the Next Generation of Athletes

On a humid Sunday morning in Tampa, roughly 50 young athletes gathered on the turf at The Trench Academy for the second annual 50 Cal Big Man Camp.

This was not a showcase built for quarterbacks, receivers, or highlight reels.

This camp was built for the big men.

Offensive and defensive linemen worked through position-specific drills, conditioning sessions, and mentorship opportunities designed for athletes who often do the hardest work on the field while receiving the least attention.

But the camp represented something much bigger than football.

Hosted by the CJ Dickey Foundation and offered free of charge to all participants, the 50 Cal Big Man Camp serves as both a football development opportunity and an athlete safety and awareness initiative created in honor of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr.

Throughout the day, athletes participated not only in on-field training, but also conversations centered around brotherhood, accountability, awareness, and athlete safety including education surrounding rhabdomyolysis and sickle cell trait awareness.

What began as unimaginable loss has evolved into something powerful: a foundation committed to turning tragedy into impact.

Rather than allowing grief to become the end of CJ’s story, his parents, Calvin and Nicole Dickey, chose to ensure his legacy would continue through the lives of other young athletes.

That mission can be seen throughout every part of the foundation’s work.

From athlete awareness initiatives to scholarships and mentorship opportunities, the organization focuses on supporting student-athletes both on and off the field while creating opportunities for the next generation to pursue their dreams safely and responsibly.

One of the foundation’s flagship initiatives is the 50 for #50 Scholarship Program, which recognizes Tampa Bay student-athletes for leadership, character, academic excellence, and community impact.

This year, five student-athletes were selected as scholarship recipients, with one athlete receiving the foundation’s highest honor:

The 2026 Inaugural Memorial Scholar Recipient.

That athlete was Chase Fulk, a graduating senior from Wiregrass Ranch High School who will continue his journey as an NCAA student-athlete at Christopher Newport University, where he will play soccer while studying business.

A versatile forward and midfielder for Tampa Bay United’s U19 MLS Next Academy team, Fulk has spent more than a decade competing at high levels of youth soccer while balancing academics, training, leadership activities, and community service.

According to the foundation, it was that complete picture, not simply athletic ability, that separated him during the selection process.

“Chase earned the highest score among all 13 applicants, and it wasn’t close,” the foundation shared. “Our panel of judges scored him near-perfectly across all three areas: his achievements, his essay, and his video introduction. But beyond the numbers, it was the story behind Chase that truly stood out.”

Fulk maintained a 3.9 GPA throughout high school while competing at one of the nation’s top youth soccer levels. He graduated Magna Cum Laude, earned Principal’s Honor Roll recognition, and recently completed certifications in Entrepreneurship & Small Business through Intuit and Certiport.

On the field, his development has earned recognition both nationally and internationally. In 2024, Fulk was selected as one of only 30 Select Generation athletes worldwide invited to trial with Unionistas CF Academy in Spain. He returned to Spain again in 2025 spending two weeks training and playing with professional teams like Select Generation, Unionistas CF and UD Santa Marta in Salamanca and three additional weeks in Vinaròs, where he was invited to train with La Liga club CD Castellón.

But those close to him say his impact extends beyond statistics, awards, or opportunities overseas.

Known for his versatility, work ethic, and leadership, Fulk has built a reputation as the type of player willing to adapt to whatever role helps his team most. Away from soccer, he has remained active in organizations including Young Life, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and SPLASH while volunteering with organizations such as Feeding Tampa Bay and Tampa Hope Homeless Shelter.

Faith also remains a central part of his life. Fulk attends Grace Family Church in Tampa and openly credits his faith for helping shape both his perspective and his approach to leadership, athletics, and service.

For the Dickey family, those qualities aligned directly with the mission behind the foundation and the legacy they hope to continue through the scholarship program.

In his scholarship submission video, Fulk spoke directly about the impact CJ’s story had on him as a fellow athlete.

“Pushing yourself is a part of being an athlete, but safety should never be overlooked,” Fulk said. “Learning about CJ’s story really stuck with me. He was a young athlete with a strong work ethic and big goals, just like me, and what happened to him was heartbreaking.”

He added that CJ’s story reinforced how critical it is for athletes, coaches, and programs to prioritize awareness, responsibility, and proper care when it comes to athlete health and safety.

While Fulk was officially selected as the Memorial Scholar months earlier, Sunday’s camp gave him the opportunity to meet the Dickey family in person for the first time, hear stories about CJ from the people who knew him best, and participate in interviews highlighting both the scholarship and the foundation’s mission.

“Being selected as the 2026 Memorial Scholar already meant a lot to me,” Fulk said. “But after today, it means even more. Hearing the stories about CJ, the way he impacted people, and seeing how his legacy continues through this foundation left me humbled and honored to represent something so meaningful.”

Fulk also participated in an interview with Spectrum News during the event, where the story of the foundation, the scholarship, and CJ’s continuing impact was highlighted for the broader community.

For Chase’s parents, Dave and Brandy Fulk, the experience carried an emotional weight that extended far beyond athletics or recognition.

“As a father, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and tragedy their family has endured,” Dave Fulk said. “But what inspired me most was seeing how they chose to turn pain into purpose. Instead of allowing tragedy to define CJ’s story, they made sure his legacy would continue impacting lives far beyond his time here.”

That impact was visible throughout the camp itself.

The foundation fully covered the cost for all participating athletes, creating access and opportunity for families throughout the area while continuing to expand the camp’s reach from its original 50-player max format during its inaugural year.

Nicole Dickey later reflected on the significance of seeing Chase step into the role as the foundation’s inaugural memorial scholar.

“You have encapsulated exactly why we continue to use CJ’s tragedy to raise awareness and impact real change,” she shared. “It was our extreme honor to meet Chase, our 2026 Inaugural Memorial Scholar Recipient, who not only embodied CJ’s spirit but is an accomplished young man with a bright future.”

As the CJ Dickey Foundation continues to grow, its mission remains centered on ensuring that CJ’s life continues creating opportunity, awareness, and impact for future generations of athletes.

And through initiatives like the 50 Cal Big Man Camp and the 50 for #50 Scholarship Program, that legacy continues to reach far beyond the football field.

Not simply through remembrance.

But through action.