In 2004, a 9-year-old boy watched a video about children in Africa who were becoming orphaned as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that kills thousands of Africans each year.

His name was Austin Gutwein.

After watching the video, he realized those kids weren’t any different from himself, except that they were suffering.

Austin felt the need to do something to help them, and so on World AIDS Day that year he shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 children who would be orphaned during his day at school.

Friends and family sponsored Austin and he was able to raise almost $3,000, and that money was used by World Vision to provide help to eight orphaned children.

Five years later, and Hoops of Hope is the biggest basketball shoot-a-thon in the world, and works much like a walk-a-thon.

Cities and towns in America and across the globe put together their own Hoops of Hope events, to contribute to Austin’s dream and help World Vision.

Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus student Anna Magidson was one of the many young people moved by Austin’s story.

This year she decided to stage Issaquah’s own Hoops of Hope event.

On Saturday, April 18, the people of Issaquah gathered at the Issaquah Community Center to help her reach her goal of providing homes and support for the orphans of Africa.

More than 70 free throw shooters shot baskets all throughout the day, decked out in bright orange Hoops of Hope t-shirts, many with their faces painted.

When energy levels started to run low, there were donuts and drinks and other snacks to keep people going.

City of Issaquah Recreation Coordinator Cathy Jones said this week that the inaugural event was a great success.

“Saturday’s event was fabulous,” she said. “We raised approximately $3,500, all through donations, and had nearly 70 people participate. We will be evaluating the event this week and hope to do it all over again next year.”

Magidson, who is also a member of the Issaquah Youth Advisory Board, was equally pleased at what had been achieved.

“It was amazing to see the faces of the participants, all so eager to help out,” she said. “Many of them stayed for all of the seven hours, shooting hoops and having fun. It has truly been an inspiring event for me.”

The United Nations estimates that every 14 seconds another child is orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

Each day over 6,000 children join the 15 million children worldwide who have already lost one or both parents to this disease.

For more on Hoops of Hope, go to www.hoopsofhope.org