Gabarra makes donation to Charlotte Moran Fund
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 23, 2018) — This past January, United States Naval Academy head women’s soccer coach Carin Gabarra was honored by Women and Girls in Soccer (WAGS) with the Women’s Soccer Award of Excellence, an award established in 1999 to recognize those who have brought honor and distinction to women’s soccer.
As part of her award recognition, Gabarra was allotted a gift to honor an organization whose mission worked to advance women in the game of soccer. Upon hearing on this opportunity, she knew that she wanted to honor a woman that had given so much to her during her young years as a coach. She chose to donate the $6,500 award to United Soccer Coaches and more specifically the Charlotte Moran Fund.
Gabarra has spent her life on the pitch as both a player and coach. Among her many awards, she was the Golden Ball recipient at the 1991 Women’s World Cup and helped the United States secure a gold medal during the 1996 Olympics. Upon her retirement as a player, Gabarra continued her work molding future players of the game as a coach, including the last 25 seasons as the head coach at Navy.
Gabarra coached with Moran early in her career and knew that this was a no-brainer. In the few years prior to Moran’s passing, Gabarra was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympics Hall of Fame. She has the fondest memories of her coaching years with Moran and often reflects on the mentorship that Moran provided her.
On May 18, 2009, Moran lost her two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. For over 30 years, she dedicated her life to soccer, serving as an advocate, coach, and mentor for clubs and coaches across the country. Moran began her career serving clubs and organizations in Pennsylvania before moving into increased leadership roles in US Youth Soccer. She served as the US Youth Soccer Region I Girls ODP Administrator for 17 years, as the US Youth Soccer ODP Girls National Chair for four years, and on the Local Organizing Committee for the 2003 Women’s World Cup. She was inducted into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame, US Youth Soccer Region I Hall of Fame, and posthumously inducted into the US Youth Soccer Hall of Fame.
Soccer coaches across the country honor her memory by supporting the Charlotte Moran Fund housed within the United Soccer Coaches Foundation endowed funds. Ongoing support for the fund allows those that knew her to award annual scholarships to coaches focused on the development and cultivation of women’s soccer. Awardees are able to enhance their coaching education through advanced coaching courses and professional development opportunities.
From May 18-25, United Soccer Coaches is hosting a campaign to share Moran’s story, solicit donations for her endowment fund, and to raise awareness to the importance of cancer screenings to avoid late stage diagnosis.
To learn more about recommended screening tests to prevent advanced cancer diagnosis, please visit www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/prevention/screening.htm.
To donate in memory of Moran or to any other endowed funds at United Soccer Coaches, please visit UnitedSoccerCoaches.org/GiveNow, call 816-471-1941, or reach out to United Soccer Coaches Foundation Officer Amanda Mitchell at AMitchell@UnitedSoccerCoaches.org.
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