Austin Gutwein may never be a pro player. However, the impact he's made using the sport of basketball is incredible. When Austin was only nine years old, he combined his passion for helping people with his love of the sport where he created an organization called Hoops of Hope. Years later, his organization continues to raise money for orphanages all around the world while teaching them the sport of basketball.

In the spring of 2004, Austin Gutwein watched a video of children who had lost their parents to AIDS.  Moved to do something to help these kids, Austin decided to shoot basketball free throws as a way to raise money on World AIDS Day.

He shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned that day. Through sponsorships, he was able to raise almost 3,000 dollars. From that year forward, Austin organized a shoot-a-thon called Hoops of Hope, that thousands participate in.

Hoops of Hope participants have raised over 2.5 million to provide orphans of AIDS access to food, clothing, shelter, a new school, dormitories, a computer lab, two medical centers, and more. (Hoops of Hope is now closed but the schools and medical centers remain)