The 14th Ian’s Cup event, involving matches between boys and girls soccer programs from Johnson and Reagan high schools, will be held March 3 at Comalander Stadium, 12002 Jones Maltsberger Road, San Antonio.
The fundraiser is organized by local nonprofit Ian's Foundation, which formed in memory of Ian Fincke, a Johnson High student who died at age 16 from a traumatic brain injury sustained during a skateboarding accident in 2008.
According to a news release, the foundation was created to advance the safety and welfare of San Antonio youth through education and scholarship awards by providing helmet safety talks at local schools and events citywide.
The foundation said it has distributed more than 6,000 helmets to date and awarded more than $65,000 in scholarships.
The release said Fincke’s passion for soccer inspired the soccer fundraiser, in which boys squads from Johnson and Reagan begin the evening at 5 p.m., followed by a girls soccer contest between both far north side high schools.
The matches are open to the public. Admission is $3 per student and $5 per adult.
The release said the school with the highest aggregate score for the night will win the Ian’s Cup trophy and bragging rights for one year. Scholarships will also be awarded postgame to four select seniors.
Additionally, four separate $500 donations will be made to local organizations chosen by each of the scholarship winners to allow underprivileged individuals the ability to play soccer or to provide helmets to those in need, the release said.
The event also involves a virtual gift card pull benefit through the event website, in which community members have been invited to raise more scholarship award money by buying a gift card valued at least $25 from a local business.