The American Sportfishing Association honored comedian, actor and philanthropist Steve Harvey with the inaugural ASA Impact Award in recognition of his efforts to bring new people into fishing. The award was presented during the 2025 International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, or ICAST, in Orlando, Florida.
The Impact Award was established to recognize leaders in the recreational-fishing community who enact lasting change through their efforts to grow the sport and share the mental and physical benefits of angling.
Best known for his decades in the entertainment industry, Harvey and his wife, Marjorie, have introduced countless youngsters to fishing through the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation. The Atlanta-based charity provides youth outreach services to help cultivate the next generation of leaders and has contributed more than $700,000 for scholarships.
“It is an honor to recognize Mr. Harvey for his foundation’s efforts to introduce young people to fishing through the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation,” said ASA president and CEO Glenn Hughes. “Fishing teaches critical life skills, and Steve’s work is sculpting the next generation of leaders both on and off the water.”
According to a 2024 report, 87 percent of adult anglers started fishing before the age of 12. The Harvey foundation creates lifelong anglers by connecting vulnerable youth with mentors through the Steve Harvey Mentoring Program and Marjorie Harvey Girls Who Rule the World initiatives at their 1,600-acre Legacy Ranch in Upson County, Georgia, which includes multiple lakes with trophy-sized fish.
