Baller 21

Hoops of Hope

by Chris Harvey on 07/10/08

Austin Gutwein, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, saw a video by World Vision about children in need who had lost their parents to HIV/AIDS and passionately decided that he needed to do something to help.

What he decided to do was create Hoops of Hope, a non-profit that organizes free-throw shooting marathons to raise money for children in Zambia.

The kicker is that Austin is 14 years old; 9 years old when he began this quest in 2004.

(photo via The Rebelution)

Year 1: Austin shot 2057 free throws, one for each child orphaned that school day. $3000 were raised by sponsors in the community for each shot taken.

Year 2: Austin recruited 1000 of friends, from local churches and schools in the community, to shoot with him.

Year 3: Specific projects in Zambia were targeted and enough money was raised to build a school and a medical testing center.

This Year, 2008: The goal is to raise $290,000 for a second medical center, 1000 caregiver kits (testing and treatment), and 1000 bicycles for the caregivers (World Bicycle Relief partner).

You can watch some video footage of the organization here.

When I first saw this story, I lost it. First, because I want to do similar things and second, because Austin was so young and already doing great things. What is holding me back?

Here is a taste of the humility that I was served:

“What I’ve learned from doing Hoops of Hope is that it can take just one kid to make a difference. One kid just has to have a passion. And also, I’ve learned that God can use anybody. You don’t have to be out-of-the-ordinary, you can just be a normal kid. You don’t have to wait to be an adult to make a difference. You can make a difference in the lives of anybody, just by wanting to do something.”

There is a burning inside of me that is looking for an outlet. However, I have been wondering about tomorrow’s dreams for too long and need to start living more today.

I have been seeking and wrestling and praying to confirm a holy ambition for my life. A holy ambition is a balance between something you really, really want to do and something God wants you to do.

Opportunities are endless, needs of compassion in this world are all around us, but all it takes is one person wanting to impact the world and taking action with all their being.

It’s time for me to stop talking about it and start being about it.

C.Harv