Hoops of Hope is the world’s largest free-throw marathon. Similar to a walk-a-thon, participants raise awareness and funds for children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS by shooting free throws. 100% of all funds raised through our free throw marathons go directly to care for orphan children in highly affected areas. This year, participants from all over the world, will shoot thousands of free throws to represent the thousands of kids orphaned each day. At the nZone we are also shooting soccer goals.

Hoops of Hope is coming the the nZone on Saturday, August 25th from 5-9pm and we’d love to have your help to make this event a success.

You can simply donate to the cause… but it’s way more fun to get involved personally. All you have to do is:

  1. , our event organizer, to let her know you want to participate.
  2. Invite your family and friends to sponsor you with donations.
  3. Show up to shoot your free throws & kick your soccer goals.

That’s it. Want more? Here’s our FAQ:

Do I do this alone or with a group?

You can do Hoops of Hope by yourself (we will assign you to a team with people of a similar age) or with friends as a team.

Is this event just for kids?

No. If you think you can shoot 1000 free throws, bring it on! There is no age requirement. Last year, we had participants from age 2 – 65 years of age.

How many free throws & soccer goals do I need to shoot?

That’s up to you. There are no required number of shots to participate in a Hoops of Hope event. However, if you want to set a goal, you can from one of the challenges below, or create your own. And no, you don’t have to make them all.

  1. Entry Challenge = 500 shots
  2. Individual Challenge = 1000 shots
  3. Team Challenge = 6000 shots

What if I’m not a basketball/soccer player?

No problem at all. This is a fun event and you will definitely have a good time for a great cause. All you need is a desire to make a difference for someone else.

Do I need to register?

Yes, we need to have you register so we can know how many gyms need to be reserved.

Does it cost anything to register?

No, nothing at all. When you create your fundraising page at Firstgiving, you may see an event charge but it is set at $0.

How much money do I need to raise?

We are asking each participant to target a fundraising goal of $250. Most people are able to raise $100 without much effort and many are able to raise a lot more than $250. Challenge yourself and give it your best but ultimately remember that every amount helps.

How does someone donate to Hoops of Hope?

Just go to the New Life team donation page.

How do I raise money?

You can either send people to the New Life team page or email Kolleen to get instructions on how to setup your own First Giving fundraising page that is linked to Hoops of Hope. You can then send the link out friends and family. They can donate online or they can send a check to Hoops of Hope on your behalf. In addition, (or if you don’t wish to create a fundraising page), you can download an Offline Donation Form here.

Where does all the money go?

100% of all money raised through our free throw marathons goes directly to select projects to care for orphan children. Hoops of Hope is privately funded and does not take any administrative fees from what is raised by participants.

How did Hoops of Hope get started?

Hoops of Hope was started in 2004 by a 10-year-old who just wanted to make a difference by doing what he loved: shooting hoops. Now in it’s 8th year, we’re looking for YOU along with another 20,000 participants to join the event.

Who is Firstgiving.com?

Firstgiving.com allows participants to create an online fundraising page. Each fundraising page can be personalized and then emailed to friends and family. Donations are then collected online through the fundraising page’s secure server and sent automatically to Hoops of Hope. Firstgiving.com is a part of the BBB Online Reliability Program and meets all membership standards. Feel free to visit their website at www.firstgiving.com.

What if I still have questions?

No problem, just email Kolleen or call the church office at 703-222-8836.