National foundation helps raise money for HIV/AIDS in Africa

Hoops of Hope is a foundation focused on African children who are exposed to HIV/AIDS. It sends volunteer nurses to Africa to help kids that are in need of medical attention and other volunteers who build facilities that better the living conditions in the villages.

"When I was in Africa, first of all, it was a life changing moment," national Hoops of Hope event coordinator Julie Dodd said. "I lived in a home with an orphan named Orlando. He was 8 years old, raised by his grandma because his parents died of AIDS. The orphan realized I was a part of Hoops of Hope and he said something to me that I'll remember forever."

Four years ago Orlando said this to Dodd: "I want to thank you for giving me my life. One year ago I thought I would die, but then Hoops of Hope built a clinic within walking distance and now I'm well enough to go to school and play soccer."

"It floored me," Dodd said. "Doing the simple things change people's lives."

Dodd said the conditions where she stayed in Africa were like a scene from a National Geographic film. In the hills of Zambia, homes had one room and were made of mud with mud floors and grass roofs. People cooked outside on an open fire with no running water.

"The striking thing is, as you look around and see the village, you see elderly and young kids, but you don't see a lot of the middle generation," Dodd said. "Old people take care of their grandkids, and sometimes you'll see 9-year-old kids being the head of their households because their parents died. But the cool thing is that the people are so full of joy and happiness, and they're very welcoming and would sing and dance for us."

Dodd said Hoops of Hope sponsors many projects throughout the year.

"One of our largest projects is building a high school in rural Zambia where there was no school for 70 miles," Dodd said. "Kids weren't getting education and were sleeping on floors, so we made two dormitories for male and female as well as dorms for the staff and a water well. We also partnered with Intel and we were able to build the orphans a computer lab. It's still an ongoing project."

The national Hoops of Hope organization has been setting new goals and developing new projects for 2012.

"Our new project is feeding orphans in Malawi for only $40 for an entire year," Dodd said. "While feeding the orphans we also want to build water wells in India and Zambia. We also want to build a community center and a place to store food, and this one is very important to us."

Hoops of Hope was started by American Austin Gutwein when he was 9 years old. Gutwein was just a kid that wanted to help other people in his life and his main motivation was helping orphans in Africa.

"Austin would watch videos and documentaries about children who had AIDS," Dodd said. "He was so drawn into what was happening, so one day he held an event at his school. He shot 2,057 free throws to raise money for orphans and he [raised] close to $3,000."

Dodd said a child gets AIDS every 14 seconds.

"Giving any type of donation to the organization will help a child in need and 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to the cause," Dodd said.

Hoops of Hope fundraiser planning is a simple process requiring only participants, a basketball and a court.

"Hoops of Hope is a basketball shoot-a-thon, much like a walk-a-thon, where you shoot free throws for children in need," Dodd said. "Every dollar raised will go towards a project you select it to go towards to help the orphans. Every free throw that is made helps the kids."

Southeast Missouri State University will host Hoops of Hope at the Student Recreation Center-North. It is sponsored by Towers North Hall Council and will start at 2 p.m. April 22. Teams from five to seven people can enter at a cost of $5 per person. Teams will compete with each other in a free throw contest. The top three scoring teams will receive medals and other prizes.