HARMONY — Sports and spiritual uplifting can go hand in hand.

Christian Sports International, founded in 1990 and based in Pittsburgh, preaches such a philosophy every day.

"We probably reach 10,000 kids a year and that number's growing," said CSI president Scott Grinder, a Zelienople resident. "We're getting into more and more areas all the time.

"Western Pennsylvania is our base, but we've done clinics in Eastern Tennessee, New York City. Now we're getting into Atlanta and Chicago."

Two former Pittsburgh professional athletes now living in the area — ex-Pirates first baseman Sid Bream in Zelienople and ex-Steelers offensive lineman Jon Kolb in Grove City — are part of CSI and will be on hand at the organization's celebration and benefit dinner Thursday night at the Grace Church of Harmony Youth Center.

Bream recently became the national spokesman for CSI and Kolb will be the guest speaker at Thursday's dinner, which will serve as a fundraiser.

About 150 people at $25 per plate will be attending the dinner.

"It's just a small fundraiser. We need $150,000 to $250,000 annually to do what we do," Grinder said. "We have a lot of donors out there and I'm working on about 300 more. They give $20 a month or so, whatever they can afford."

CSI's mission statement reads: To change the hearts and lives of kids with the good news of Jesus Christ, impacting lives through sports and education programs both locally and throughout the world.

Bream coached for the Pirates during spring training last year and with the Class A State College Spikes last summer. He now is coaching his daughter's junior high basketball team and is helping his youngest son Austin, 15, develop as a baseball player.

"I've been with this (CSI) program since my playing days with the Pirates," Bream said. "I believe in what it stands for. I decided not to coach pro ball this year to devote more time to CSI.

"A lot of the traits it takes to succeed in sports — character and competition — can be transcended to everyday life. Following Christ is a big part of that."

Bream said that athletes who follow Christ's word "seem to be able to overcome life's problems more regularly."

Kolb was part of four Super Bowl championships with the Steelers. He now works at a wellness facility in Hermitage. His son, Caleb, is a freshman wrestler at the University of Nebraska.

"There's more to life than being successful in athletics," Kolb said. "In Tony Dungy's book "Quiet Strength," he revealed that 70 percent of retired football players are either divorced, bankrupt or unemployed within two years.

"People don't make a lot of progress there as they go through life. What's missing is our faith."

Kolb said he used to play football and compete intensely.

"One day I realized, 'If this works in sports, what other things will it work with?'" he said. "I applied that intense effort to my schoolwork and my average grades became good grades.

"I didn't get smarter all of a sudden. I just worked at it more intensely. I decided that's the kind of Dad I wanted to be — and that's how I wanted to follow Christ."

Bream and Kolb were involved in a sports clinic in one of the poorest counties in the country located in Eastern Tennessee.

"We taught them sports and showed them a different way of life," Bream said.

"Hope is more than being an athlete," Kolb agreed. "It's about communicating and building relationships with kids."

Kolb is one of 22 men to play in four Super Bowls.

"Seventeen of those guys were All-Pros, 11 are in the Hall of Fame and five became homeless," he said. "CSI uses sports as a bridge to building relationships.

"It conveys a deeper message."