Hoops of Hope All-Stars Free Throw Shoot-a-thon Event In King Of Prussia

Synergy Production Group today announced the launch of Hoops of Hope All-Stars Free Throw Shoot-a-thon to raise funds for projects benefiting AIDS orphans and their communities in Africa. Deemed “the world’s largest free throw festival,” the outdoor event will take place at the King of Prussia Mall on Saturday, July 31, 2010.

Much like a walk-a-thon, only with basketball free throws, the event will bring together over 1,200 free throw shooters, attempting over 600,000 free throws. All participants who raise the pledge goal of $150 will receive a free event t-shirt, goodie bag from sponsors and a ticket to the evening concert featuring Dave Barnes, Francesca Battistelli and The Afters. Participants can register at http://www.hoopsofhopeallstars.com

Hoops of Hope All-Stars will benefit Hoops of Hope, a non-profit organization founded in 2003 by then nine-year-old Austin Gutwein. Austin was moved to action after seeing a video by World Vision, a humanitarian relief organization, about a girl named Maggie from Zambia who lost both her parents to AIDS.

Austin was sponsored a dollar a shot by friends and businesses to shoot 2,057 free throws on World AIDS Day, one for every child orphaned from AIDS during an average school day. Since then, Hoops of Hope events have raised over $1.8 million to build a school, medical clinic, water system and two orphan hope centers in Zambia as well as provide thousands of back packs with school and medical supplies.

The Hoops of Hope All-Stars event is to raise over $200,000 to provide education, health care and economic development to communities in Zamtan, Zambia, in the heart of sub-Saharan Africa which is home to over 12 million AIDS orphans.

“We are extremely excited to be launching this event in Philadelphia,” said Austin Gutwein. “Hundreds of people have hosted their own Hoops of Hope events across the country, but this is the first time we are bringing together people to participate in one huge free throw shoot-a-thon. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone out on the courts shooting free throws to help change the lives of AIDS orphans.”

About Hoops of Hope:

Hoops of Hope (www.hoopsofhope.org) is a 501c3 organization based in Mesa, Arizona that was founded in 2003 to raise money for AIDS orphans in Africa. Thousands of people from 17 countries have participated in Hoops of Hope events, raising more than $1.8 million to date.

About Austin Gutwein:

Austin Gutwein founded Hoops of Hope at age nine. He is the co-author of “Take Your Best Shot,” the story of the start of Hoops of Hope and extraordinary experiences in helping AIDS orphans in Africa.

About Synergy Production Group:

Synergy Production Group (www.synergyprg.com) creates and produces live events that connect musical artists, causes or brands with audiences. Based in Franklin, Tennessee, Synergy is a turn-key solution, offering strategic content development, creative design, audio, video and lighting production, talent procurement and complete program management.

About World Vision:

World Vision (www.worldvision.org) is an internationally recognized humanitarian relief organization working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Hoops of Hope channels 100% of funds raised through World Vision on projects in Africa.

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