The Community That Helped Us Grow: Bill Sparks

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A Story of Perseverance, Kindness, and Opportunity

Every great mission begins with people who believe in it. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to open a door that others have kept closed.

During the early stages of Osito's Friends Sports and Endurance Academy, one of our greatest challenges wasn't finding children who wanted to play soccer or volunteers willing to help. It was something much simpler: finding a safe, consistent place where our kids could practice.

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What should have been a simple opportunity for children to enjoy sports became an unexpected journey filled with obstacles, frustration, and disappointment.

We approached several local schools and spoke with principals, hoping they could provide a small space where our children could practice. Although many expressed appreciation for what we were doing, they explained that they couldn't authorize the use of their facilities because of district policies, insurance requirements, and other regulations.

In some cases, we were told that we would have to pay facility rental fees. While we understood that schools and cities have rules to follow, it was heartbreaking to realize that even a volunteer program dedicated to helping children could face financial barriers simply to access a place to play.

We weren't asking for money. We weren't asking for special treatment. We were simply looking for a safe place where children could play soccer.

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There were Sundays when we arrived at public parks only to find the gates locked. On some occasions, we climbed over fences to reach fields where we hoped to hold our practices. Other times, we shared public spaces with other teams, only to be asked to leave because another organization had reserved the facilities.

Twice, we experienced the disappointment of having to leave a field in front of the very children we were trying to support.

The hardest part wasn't the inconvenience or the time spent searching for another location. It was watching the children's faces as they tried to understand why they couldn't simply play.

They didn't understand facility reservations, insurance requirements, city regulations, or the financial barriers involved. They were just kids who wanted to run, kick a soccer ball, spend time with their friends, and enjoy the game.

One particular day was especially difficult. After another experience of being asked to leave a field, I returned home overwhelmed and in tears.

It was heartbreaking to feel that something so simple, something we were doing entirely for the benefit of children, had become such a struggle.

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And then, that same evening, something extraordinary happened.

I received a phone call from Bill Sparks, founder of Los Angelitos de Encinitas.

It felt like an angel had arrived at exactly the right moment.

Bill told me that we no longer needed to worry about finding a place for our children to practice. He reassured me that the problem was taken care of, that we would have a consistent place to gather every Sunday, and that our only responsibility moving forward was to focus on the children and playing soccer.

After everything we had experienced, those words meant more than I could ever explain.

For the first time, we could stop worrying about where we would practice the following weekend and focus entirely on what mattered most: the children.

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Through the generosity and support of Bill Sparks and Los Angelitos de Encinitas, our young athletes finally had something we had been searching for—a stable, welcoming environment where they could learn, build friendships, develop confidence, and grow together.

But Bill and Los Angelitos gave us something much greater than access to a field.

They gave us hope, stability, encouragement, and the opportunity to continue a mission that could have easily been discouraged by so many obstacles.

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Their support became an important turning point in our journey and helped lay the foundation for what Osito's Friends Sports and Endurance Academy would eventually become: an officially recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for underserved youth through sports, mentorship, education, and meaningful experiences.

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Today, as we continue growing our Academy, we carry that experience with us. It reminds us why our mission matters and why removing barriers for children is so important.

We understand that organizations, schools, and cities have regulations and responsibilities. But we also believe that when communities work together, solutions can be found that allow more children to participate, regardless of their families' financial circumstances.

A Special Thank You

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To Bill Sparks and everyone at Los Angelitos de Encinitas:

Thank you for believing in our children when we needed support the most.

Thank you for opening your doors, for your generosity, and for giving us the opportunity to continue doing what we love.

You didn't simply provide a place to practice soccer. You helped keep a dream alive.

Your kindness will always be part of the story of Osito's Friends, and we will never forget the difference you made in our journey.

Because sometimes, changing a child's future begins with something as simple as giving them a place to play.

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More Than Sports. Building Futures.

With heartfelt gratitude,

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Marco Antonio Barrueta Sotelo

Founder, President & CEO

Osito's Friends Sports and Endurance Academy