Austin Gutwein wouldn’t have called it a legacy when he started. He was just a normal boy, living a normal life, but one day he just knew he wanted to make a difference.
Austin was only around 10 years old when his legacy project was born. He saw a video about children in Africa orphaned because their parents contracted a disease called HIV/AIDS. He realized the kids in the video were just like him, only he was a lot more fortunate; and he was inspired to do something to help. He asked himself the all important question ‘what can I do?’
So he decided to use something he loved, basketball, as a way to help.
On World AIDS Day 2004, Austin pledged to shoot 2,057 free throws, representing the number of children orphaned in a single school day because of AIDS. He got sponsors for his effort, and raised almost $3,000 USD that day. He gave the money to a humanitarian organization called World Vision where it was used to help 8 African children. The experience really moved him … to want to do even more.
After that first event, Austin decided to create an annual World AIDS Day event and recruit other kids to shoot free throws with him, calling the endeavor Hoops of Hope. In that second year he got about 1000 people to participate in a sponsored free-throw event. That year he raised over $35,000. It’s now a 501c3 tax exempt non-profit corporation headquartered in his home of Arizona called Hoops of Hope, Inc. The project has grown to include events all across the U.S. and several international locations.
This legacy resulted from having an idea using something as simple as the enjoyment of basketball, adding to it some action and persistence, the development of consistent systems to create and leverage events, sharing the idea and getting others involved. Here are the benefits of doing this work that have already been accomplished (while Austin continues his “day job” of going to school):
In 2006, Hoops of Hope participants raised $85,000 USD to help build the Johnathan Sim Legacy School in Twachiyanda, Zambia, which will house 1000 kids who would otherwise have to travel over 60 miles to the next closest school. Construction was completed by October 2007, including two large buildings each with several classrooms, a new well, and teacher housing that is under construction.
In 2007, Austin’s organization sought to raise $150,000 USD to build a medical testing lab and voluntary counseling center in Sinazongwe, Zambia. That goal was exceeded by $50,000 USD and the additional money was used to provide 1,000 caregiver kits to the medical lab, and furnishings to the 2006 Johnathan Sim Legacy School.
Because of the overwhelming need for AIDS testing and treatment, in 2008 Hoops of Hope plans included raising enough funds to build a second medical testing lab and counseling center in Zambia, along with additional Care Giver Kits.The total goal for 2008 was $290,000 USD, earmarked for these projects, but the organization raised $405,000, completing construction of a lab in Sinazongwe, building a water system in Kenya and beginning to build a second clinic in Chilal, Zambia. Austin’s organization continues to partner with World Vision, providing an example of how collaboration with an existing organization can be successfully utilized to create your own separate legacy project.
And his efforts and connections allow 100% of the funds raised through the Hoops of Hope free-throw marathon events to go to identified projects. Administrative costs are covered by private donations.
Another goal was to provide 1,000 bicycles for the caregivers through World Vision’s partnership with World Bicycle Relief – a simple, sustainable form of transportation bringing these programs to even more people who need them.
Already in 2009, Hoops of Hope has completed $120,000 of funding for the Chilala clinic and raised $41,000 for 250 bicycles and 750 mosquito nets for caregivers in Sinazongwe. Goals focus on raising $600,000 more for additional construction projects. See http://www.hoopsofhope.org/project-goals-history.html for details. See the amazing power of connection and partnership with this list representing current events http://www.hoopsofhope.org/event-results.html
Austin draws his inspiration from The Starfish Story (original author, Loren Eisley). A smart and realistic young man, he realizes he cannot help the 15 million and growing population of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Driven by a desire to do something to make a difference, though, he also realizes that shouldn’t be something that stops him. Here’s the story that fuels his commitment to act:
“One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
“I made a difference for that one.”
Which starfish are you committed to save?
Written by: Dolly M. Garlo, RN, JD, PCC