Hoops of Hope Shooting 1,000 Free Throws to help children orphaned by HIV/AIDS

Hi, and thanks for visiting my fund-raising page!

Along with thousands of other kids, I've made a commitment to shoot 1,000 free throws on Saturday, December 2, 2006 (the day after World AIDS Day) to help children who have been affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.

Last year, Hoops of Hope participants raised over $30,000 to help children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. This year, we are coming together to help build a school in the community of Twachiyanda, Zambia. Zambia is a country that has been hit hard by the African AIDS crisis. Many kids in this community are forced to walk over 6 miles to get to school. This is just too far for 7 and 8 year old kids to walk and it keeps many of them from attending school, especially at the younger ages.

The Johnathan Sim Legacy School, named in honor of Johnathan Sim, a World Vision employee who passed away in 2005, will provide an education for 430 kids who range in age from 7 to 16 years old. This school will be built right in their community of Twachiyanda and will help provide a future filled with hope for children who really need it.

Let's never forget that, across the world, over 6,000 children every day are losing one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. The problem is huge but I'm doing something about it. Will you support me by making a tax-deductible donation on my web page? World Vision says that every gift will go toward building the school in Twachiyanda and donating through this web site is simple, fast and totally secure.

If we raise more money than we need to build this school (wouldn't that be something!), World Vision will put any extra funds toward helping other children in this community, or another community similarly impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Thanks for supporting me!