City SC Carlsbad hosted the 9th annual Giving Back Friendlies event on June 18, 2022 raising a total of $14,665 for this year’s beneficiary, Ethan Ibarra.
The Friendlies are City SC’s biggest annual community fundraiser. Every year, the club picks a local cause or organization to support and dedicates a weekend of friendly games to raising funds for the chosen recipient. Since its inception in 2014, the Giving Back Friendlies have raised over $100,000 for a wide variety of worthy causes, ranging from local families in need to organizations doing life changing and in some instances, life saving work in the community.
This year’s cause was a highly personal one as Ethan Ibarra and family have deep ties to City SC. Ethan is a City SC alum and student athlete at St. Katherine’s University. Ethan was slated to take on a team of his own this year as a member of the City SC coaching staff, prior to being involved in a near fatal accident in January. Ethan was hit by a car while on a run in his neighborhood and sustained a traumatic brain injury. In the past five months, after two brain surgeries and admittance to a highly intensive rehabilitation program (five days a week, 7 hours a day), Ethan has gone from an uncertain future following that first brain surgery, to running 8 miles the morning of the Giving Back Friendlies (at a 9 minute pace), and then coming out and visiting all of the fields to interact with the coaches and players.
Ethan, pictured center
“The Giving Back Friendlies serves as a great reminder of how much good we can do when we come together as a soccer community,” said City SC Director of Operations, Michael Duggan. “It’s always a massive effort from everyone involved and we’re proud to continue to be able to give back each year and support families that need us.”
Many thanks to all of our City SC Carlsbad players, parents, team managers, coaches, and staff who support this event every year, to all those who volunteered to referee games, and to the Ibarra and Rodriguez Families, La Banana Fruits and Kona Ice for assisting with our fundraising efforts! All funds raised at this year’s event will go directly towards helping Ethan pay medical bills.
Donations are still being accepted online via GoFundMe – CLICK HERE to donate.
These events define our club and community spirit. We really appreciate your help, and know Ethan and the Ibarra Family greatly appreciate the support!
