For Cortlandt Manor‘s Ethan Furphy, soccer has been more than just a game, it’s a vehicle for creating community, confidence, and belonging. After he finished his college soccer career, he found a new way to keep the flame of his passion for the sport alive while paying it forward by fundraising for Soccer Without Borders, a non-profit that uses soccer as a force for good.
“My heart skipped a beat when I saw the chance to join Team SWB for the NYC Marathon,” Furphy says. “Having worked with them before, I knew this was the perfect way to challenge myself and help open doors for young athletes who share my passion.”
Furphy became involved with Soccer Without Borders in 2023 as a unique experience through his MBA coursework. He was tasked with consulting with an organization to create a plan for sustainable growth, and he chose Soccer Without Borders after hearing about its efforts. “Their focus on using soccer as a way to build a community and develop young people really resonated with me,” he says. “Soccer taught me confidence, a sense of belonging, and lifelong friendships, and I wanted to provide other children with that experience.”
Since then, he’s been fundraising through a mix of online and door-to-door efforts. Instagram and LinkedIn updates provide training tips and fun challenges, like making a commitment to perform a belly flop into the pool of a buddy when hitting a $1,000 goal, which was met with instant goodwill. Recently, he’s gone door-to-door in Cortlandt Manor handing out flyers and hosting a charity disc golf tournament to get the community behind the cause.
The biggest hurdle? Convincing people not to wait until the last minute to donate. “There’s still time before the marathon in November, so some wait,” he says. “But fundraising builds a momentum of sorts, so I keep everyone going with updates and challenges. I also write personal thank-you notes to all the donors to convey just how much they count.”
The Cortlandt Manor community has been a key part of his path. Friends, family, and former teachers have donated, shared his campaign, and even joined some challenges. “Growing up here taught me the power of a supportive community,” Furphy says, “and that spirit is really fueling this campaign.”
Most importantly, what drives him is the knowledge that the funds raised will translate into more opportunities for underprivileged children in the form of safe playing fields, positive role models, and a sense of belonging. “I was a quiet child who made friends on the soccer field, not at school,” Furphy reflects. “Soccer is a universal language that brings people together despite their background or personality.”. If just one child feels more secure and bonded as a result of this fundraiser, that’s a success.
The experience has been rewarding in ways beyond the amount of money raised. “Seeing people rally behind a cause, even in small ways, reminds me how powerful it is when passion meets purpose,” he says. “It creates momentum, and that momentum can change lives.”
With the NYC Marathon coming up and his community’s support behind him, Ethan Furphy is running toward a future where soccer continues to break down barriers, one goal, one donation, one smile at a time.
