It is an amazing gift when someone reaches out to touch someone else’s life, its even more incredible when its a child helping other children a continent away.
That is exactly what a young boy named Austin Gutwein did in the spring of 2004 after seeing a video of children whose parents had died from AIDS.
Austin felt a calling to do something to help these children. On World Aids Day, he decided to shoot free throws and he shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school. Austin had friends and family sponsor him and was able to raise almost $3,000.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mheJ5iXXeH0&feature=relmfu]
From that year forward, thousands of people have joined Austin in a basketball shoot-a-thon called Hoops of Hope. By doing something as simple as shooting free throws, Hoops of Hope participants have raised over $2 million. The children left behind by AIDS now have access to food, clothing, shelter, a new school, four dormitories, and two medical testing facilities which he was told would save an entire generation. A second school is now under construction.
As Austin said, “Given the opportunity, kids will blow you away.”
Copyright © 2011 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.
There are times when there are just not words. One of those times is the loss of a child. There is nothing that can be said that heals the empty place left behind by one you loved so deeply.
“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” 
Sometimes Charity doesn’t need a non-profit but rather a simple act of kindness. A few years ago I received a call from a friend about a young 10-year-old girl dying from bone cancer and he needed help.
As Thanksgiving approaches and the food drives continue, we all pitch in to do our part. For some of us its donating food or money but for Stan Curtis of Kentucky it was solving a bigger problem, hunger in America.
Every year our family picks a holiday project that we support. A few years back my children voted to adopt a soldier through 
Gratitude has been a reoccurring theme for me lately. I don’t know if its the beauty of fall or just feeling blessed for all of life’s’ gifts. I am in a state of gratitude.
Have you ever wanted to thank a soldier in an airport and just weren’t sure how to approach them? Scott Truitt felt just that way on more than one occasion. Rather than let the feeling of awkwardness pass he decided to find a solution. He researched an ancient French symbol that translates to ” thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Then he tried to find a way to incorporate the symbol and spread the word, so to speak.
When I began this journey of sharing stories of small non-profits a few months back I never realized that the reoccurring theme would be the power of one. Time and again I am inspired, fascinated and motivated to share these stories of everyday heroes.
Its fitting that the day after Halloween marks the beginning of National Diabetes month. The decorations are still up and the candy treats still linger in our homes and we tell our children,”Don’t eat too much candy or you will become diabetic.”
“Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold.” 
Since Halloween is quickly approaching and the children are getting excited about their costumes, parties and candy. I thought it might be fun to share a special Halloween idea this year.
With the arrival of Halloween comes all the blood and horror. While we all love to get ghoulish this time of year, the scary reality for many is that blood cancer or leukemia is a living nightmare for approximately 40,000 people each year. There is nothing more terrifying than trying to save someone you love who has been diagnosed with blood cancer.