Our Story

The Ethan Carlos Foundation was created in loving memory of Ethan Alexander Carlos - an extraordinary young man whose life was defined by kindness, faith, joy, and an unwavering love for others.

Ethan had a rare gift. He made people feel seen. He made people feel valued. And he made people feel loved. Whether through a smile, a conversation, a helping hand, or a word of encouragement, Ethan lived each day with purpose and compassion. To know Ethan was to feel inspired. To know Ethan was to feel uplifted. To know Ethan was to experience God’s love in its purest form.

Ethan believed deeply in the power of kindness, perseverance, and self-belief. He lived by a set of promises that guided how he treated himself and others - a way of life that now lives on through Ethan’s Promise:

Love Myself.
Never Give Up.
Be Myself.
Be Fearless.
Express Myself.
Help Others.
Believe In Myself.

These promises weren’t just words to Ethan. They were how he lived.

After Ethan’s passing, our family felt called to honor his legacy by continuing the work he began - lifting others up, spreading love, and empowering young people to overcome adversity and reach their fullest potential. What began as a mission of love has grown into a movement of community, service, and hope.

Today, the Ethan Carlos Foundation serves youth and local communities through scholarships, mental health initiatives, community outreach, acts of kindness, and passion-based grants in athletics, arts, faith, and leadership. Everything we do is rooted in Ethan’s heart and guided by his belief that every young person deserves to feel supported, confident, and capable of becoming who God created them to be.

Our story is one of love turned into action, and of a legacy that will continue to grow through every life it touches.

And most of all, it’s a story of a young man that lived boldly and compassionately, whose light continues to shine through the family, friends, and communities he so deeply loved.

Live Like Ethan. Love Like Ethan.