Building Champions in Life: Ethan Duvall’s Journey from Eastside FC to Amazon Conservation

When Ethan Duvall joined Eastside FC at age fifteen, he didn’t yet realize that the values he was learning on the pitch—perseverance, teamwork, and showing up for something bigger than himself—would go on to shape the rest of his life. He played with Eastside FC's B97 White team, coached by David Wharton, until he graduated from high school. While he doesn’t remember every game (except the one where he scored a hat trick from left back with his new girlfriend in attendance, including a top-bin header), he’ll never forget the competition, community, and joy of the sport. 

Today, Ethan leads a very different kind of team—but one that shares that same spirit. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Amazon Research and Conservation Collaborative (ARCC), a nonprofit he launched in 2024 to help protect the most biologically and culturally rich rainforest on Earth. Like many, Ethan grew up hearing about rainforest destruction, but it wasn’t until he spent several years working in the Amazon during his PhD at Cornell University that the urgency truly set in. He saw firsthand how deforestation, industrial development, and wildlife declines are pushing countless species—and entire human cultures—toward the brink of extinction. 

At ARCC, Ethan and his team work tirelessly to protect biodiversity and cultural heritage in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest. Their work is diverse, but specializes in collaboration with Indigenous communities to defend their lands and sustainable livelihoods from industrial expansion and illegal activity. The outcomes affect us all: these forests store vast amounts of carbon, helping stabilize the global climate. They are home to thousands of species and medicines found nowhere else, and to Indigenous peoples who have stewarded these landscapes for generations. Protecting the Amazon means protecting our planet’s future, and Ethan believes we all have an important role to play. 

The game of soccer continues to remind Ethan why this work matters. On nearly every trip to the jungle, he finds himself on a grass field, passing a ball with local kids and community members. They may not share the same languages or backgrounds, but the game speaks for them. In those moments, Ethan is reminded how deeply connected we all are. 

Now, he’s reaching out to his old community—the Eastside FC family. ARCC is growing, and they need new donors and supporters who believe in protecting the rainforest and the planet for future generations. If you’re someone who wants to make a real difference, Ethan would love to have you on the team. You can learn more or donate at www.rainforest-arcc.org, and he welcomes anyone to reach out directly. He’s deeply grateful to the entire Eastside FC community.