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BV kids to shoot free throws to help kids
Goal is to raise $40,000 for Hoops of Hope program
By By Jill Meier
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EmailMarch 11. 2010 6:00AM
The Hoops of Hope Web site says, “If you can shoot free throws, you can help.”
That’s the message two organizations at Brandon Valley High School – the senior leadership committee and S.T.A.T. (Students Taking Action Together) – want you to know.
On March 21, Brandon Valley’s new gymnasium will serve as the venue for the free throw shooting frenzy. Two, three-hour sessions – noon to 3 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. – are planned.
The local goal is to raise $40,000, to have fun and raise awareness for African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
“That’s certainly a very do-able thing,” said Gregg Talcott, principal at Brandon Valley High School. “This is our first attempt at it, so hopefully it will go well. It’s like the Feed My Starving Children events. We think this is a worthy deal and it’s something the kids are grabbing a hold of.”
Brandon Valley senior Jenny Hessman is a member of the both groups that are sponsoring the March 21 event. She’s hoping a minimum of 400 free throw shooters will take part and that the $40,000 goal is met.
“People need to understand that it’s not just gong to happen,” she said, encouraging kids to take part and adults to donate. “This is a good opportunity to do something bigger than yourself, and it’s a simple way to raise money in a fun way.”
The deadline to register for the event has been extended to March 12. There is a $10 participation fee, which includes a t-shirt. Forms to register and donate are available on the school district Web site, www.brandonvalleyschools.com.
Hoops of Hope participants – in teams of 10 to 20 – will be soliciting pledges for their free throw shooting efforts. The suggested pledge is $1 for every free throw that’s put up.
“It’s going to be a fun atmosphere,” Talcott promised. “We’ll have music and NCAA basketball games on the big screens for those that are interested. And we’re hoping adults in the community will volunteer to count hoops and fork over some of their cash.”
Proceeds from this year’s Hoops of Hope events will raise money to build staff housing and a cafeteria at the school the organization helped to build in 2007. Last year, Hoops of Hope built four dormitories for children. Thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies will also be provided to the orphan students.
If $40,000 is raised from the Brandon Valley event alone, Talcott said that’s more than enough to build a dormitory, which costs $37,000 to construct.
“If we can help build a dormitory, that would be great. If we build one floor or the entire dormitory, that would great, too” he said.
According to information provided by the Hoops of Hope organization, the United Nations estimates that every 14 seconds, somewhere in the world, another child is orphaned by HIV/AIDS. This means that each day over 6,000 children join the 15 million children worldwide who have already lost one or both parents to this disease.
In the spring of 2004, Austin Gutwein watched a video that showed children who had lost their parents to AIDS. After watching the video, he realized these kids weren’t any different from him except they were suffering. Gutwein felt God calling him to do something to help them. He decided to shoot free throws and on World AIDS Day, 2004, he shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school. Friends and family sponsored him and he was able to raise almost $3,000. That year, the money was used by World Vision to provide hope to eight orphan children.
From that year forward, thousands of people have joined Gutwein in a basketball shoot-a-thon called Hoops of Hope. By doing something as simple as shooting free throws, Hoops of Hope participants have raised over $1.8 million. The children left behind by AIDS now have access to food, clothing, shelter, a new school, four dormitories, and two medical testing facilities which Gutwein was told would save an entire generation. A second school is now under construction.
One hundred percent of all funds raised through the free throw marathon goes directly to care for orphan children in highly affected areas.
Hessman met Gutwein, the Hoops of Hope founder, this past summer.
“He’s just really an amazing kid,” she said.
Hoops of Hope is the largest free-throw shoot-a-thon event in the world. The student-created, student-led movement was organized to provide care for African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
“The reason that it intrigued me is that it was started by kids, all of the fundraising is done by kids and the target audience is kids,” said Talcott.
That’s the message two organizations at Brandon Valley High School – the senior leadership committee and S.T.A.T. (Students Taking Action Together) – want you to know.
On March 21, Brandon Valley’s new gymnasium will serve as the venue for the free throw shooting frenzy. Two, three-hour sessions – noon to 3 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. – are planned.
The local goal is to raise $40,000, to have fun and raise awareness for African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
“That’s certainly a very do-able thing,” said Gregg Talcott, principal at Brandon Valley High School. “This is our first attempt at it, so hopefully it will go well. It’s like the Feed My Starving Children events. We think this is a worthy deal and it’s something the kids are grabbing a hold of.”
Brandon Valley senior Jenny Hessman is a member of the both groups that are sponsoring the March 21 event. She’s hoping a minimum of 400 free throw shooters will take part and that the $40,000 goal is met.
“People need to understand that it’s not just gong to happen,” she said, encouraging kids to take part and adults to donate. “This is a good opportunity to do something bigger than yourself, and it’s a simple way to raise money in a fun way.”
The deadline to register for the event has been extended to March 12. There is a $10 participation fee, which includes a t-shirt. Forms to register and donate are available on the school district Web site, www.brandonvalleyschools.com.
Hoops of Hope participants – in teams of 10 to 20 – will be soliciting pledges for their free throw shooting efforts. The suggested pledge is $1 for every free throw that’s put up.
“It’s going to be a fun atmosphere,” Talcott promised. “We’ll have music and NCAA basketball games on the big screens for those that are interested. And we’re hoping adults in the community will volunteer to count hoops and fork over some of their cash.”
Proceeds from this year’s Hoops of Hope events will raise money to build staff housing and a cafeteria at the school the organization helped to build in 2007. Last year, Hoops of Hope built four dormitories for children. Thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies will also be provided to the orphan students.
If $40,000 is raised from the Brandon Valley event alone, Talcott said that’s more than enough to build a dormitory, which costs $37,000 to construct.
“If we can help build a dormitory, that would be great. If we build one floor or the entire dormitory, that would great, too” he said.
According to information provided by the Hoops of Hope organization, the United Nations estimates that every 14 seconds, somewhere in the world, another child is orphaned by HIV/AIDS. This means that each day over 6,000 children join the 15 million children worldwide who have already lost one or both parents to this disease.
In the spring of 2004, Austin Gutwein watched a video that showed children who had lost their parents to AIDS. After watching the video, he realized these kids weren’t any different from him except they were suffering. Gutwein felt God calling him to do something to help them. He decided to shoot free throws and on World AIDS Day, 2004, he shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school. Friends and family sponsored him and he was able to raise almost $3,000. That year, the money was used by World Vision to provide hope to eight orphan children.
From that year forward, thousands of people have joined Gutwein in a basketball shoot-a-thon called Hoops of Hope. By doing something as simple as shooting free throws, Hoops of Hope participants have raised over $1.8 million. The children left behind by AIDS now have access to food, clothing, shelter, a new school, four dormitories, and two medical testing facilities which Gutwein was told would save an entire generation. A second school is now under construction.
One hundred percent of all funds raised through the free throw marathon goes directly to care for orphan children in highly affected areas.
Hessman met Gutwein, the Hoops of Hope founder, this past summer.
“He’s just really an amazing kid,” she said.
Hoops of Hope is the largest free-throw shoot-a-thon event in the world. The student-created, student-led movement was organized to provide care for African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
“The reason that it intrigued me is that it was started by kids, all of the fundraising is done by kids and the target audience is kids,” said Talcott.
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On Sunday, March 21, Brandon Valley students of all ages are invited to take part in Brandon Valley's Hoops of Hope event. The local goal is to raise $40,000, to have fun and raise awareness for African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Submitted artwork |  |
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