Penpal Relationship Sparks Philanthropy

[forrest]

When Austin was age 9, all he wanted to do was make his schools’ basketball team. He didn’t make it. So, he decided to learn more about where his penpal lived instead. What he found was startling. Austin learned that as a result of the AIDs epidemic in Africa about 15 million children had been orphaned. Not knowing exactly what he could do, Austin put together what he called a hoop-a-thon (like a walk-a-thon but it involves shooting free thows instead) on World AIDs day. That day, Austin shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during the period of time that Austin would be in school. He took pledges from the community and when it was all said and done, Austin’s first attempt at fund raising raised $3,000 which he then donated to World Vision to help take care of orphaned children.

That was three years ago. Each year this program has continued to grow as other children (and adults) have taken their shot at the freethrow lines. The project has become a national movement and this year Austin hoped to do something much bigger — in that he wanted to help build a school so that the children would have a chance to improve their lives. As of last week, Austin and his organization, www.hoopsofhope.org, raised $100,000. Working again in conjunction with World Vision, Austin was more than happy to announce that a schedule has been approved to build a new school in Zambia this spring.

It only goes to prove that no one is too young to make a difference.
http://www.only-positive-news.com/archives/49

[LIBRA]

That is so great, what a compassionate kid! Sometimes the future doesnt look that bad when I hear about kids like that. Anymore on the news all they can talk about is the bad things kids do, its so depressing. We need to know more about the positive!!

[Buffalo Head '75]

When Austin was age 9, all he wanted to do was make his schools’ basketball team. He didn’t make it. So, he decided to learn more about where his penpal lived instead. What he found was startling. Austin learned that as a result of the AIDs epidemic in Africa about 15 million children had been orphaned. Not knowing exactly what he could do, Austin put together what he called a hoop-a-thon (like a walk-a-thon but it involves shooting free thows instead) on World AIDs day. That day, Austin shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during the period of time that Austin would be in school. He took pledges from the community and when it was all said and done, Austin’s first attempt at fund raising raised $3,000 which he then donated to World Vision to help take care of orphaned children.

That was three years ago. Each year this program has continued to grow as other children (and adults) have taken their shot at the freethrow lines. The project has become a national movement and this year Austin hoped to do something much bigger — in that he wanted to help build a school so that the children would have a chance to improve their lives. As of last week, Austin and his organization, www.hoopsofhope.org (http://www.hoopsofhope.org/), raised $100,000. Working again in conjunction with World Vision, Austin was more than happy to announce that a schedule has been approved to build a new school in Zambia this spring.

It only goes to prove that no one is too young to make a difference.
http://www.only-positive-news.com/archives/49
that is awesome. being a terrible basketball player who didn't make his school team and only pouted about it, I admire how Austin has continued to use it to fuel something other than an out of control card collection.

amazing stuff!