Every year, the 24 Hour Charity Shootout gets bigger and better, and 2016 continued this trend with another huge result for Helping Hoops. This year, we set out to make 20,000 free throws and raise $50,000, and we are extremely proud to announce that we smashed both of these goals.
In total, 21,545 free throws hit the bottom of the net, and a staggering $59,854.77 was raised for our free basketball programs for underprivileged children all across Melbourne.
Over 140 people registered, fundraised and attended the Shootout at Albert Park College on June 25 and 26 to enjoy the carnival atmosphere. As well as shooting as many free throws as they could in 15 minutes, attendees enjoyed prize give aways, retro arcade games, food trucks, live street art, a demonstration clinic, vertical leap testing, a photo booth and kids activities, Helping Hoops photography exhibition and many more activities on offer.
Saturday saw a host of special guests lend their support to the 24 Hour Charity Shootout and help add to the mounting free throw tally. Melbourne United’s Chris Goulding, Majok Majok and David Barlow were joined by Australian cricketer Peter Siddle, Attica restaurant’s Ben Shewry, former NBA and NBL player Chris Anstey, and WNBL and Australian Opal player Alice Kunek, who teamed up with some very excited Helping Hoops kids and coaches in a novel free throw shooting competition that provided one of the highlights of the Shootout.
United’s Chris Goulding also took the opportunity to make a cheque presentation to Helping Hoops for $2,000, which he raised through his CG43 T-shirts that were sold at Melbourne United games at the end of the NBL season.
Those attending on Sunday were treated to what has been called Melbourne’s best ever sausage sizzle courtesy of Ben Shewry, who is fresh back from New York where his restaurant, Attica, was awarded 33rd in the World’s Best 50. Ben was joined by Gary from Gary’s Quality Meats and Michael from Tivoli Road Bakery who contributed to the event and helped cook and serve the specially designed hot dogs to the eager Shootout participants and guests. In total, Ben, Gary and Michael’s generosity raised $1,889.35 for Helping Hoops.
The 24 Hour Charity Shootout is our opportunity to bring our community together each year, raise vital funds to keep our programs free for our kids, and celebrate the work we do with those we appreciate. We are always humbled by the level of support that exists for Helping Hoops in the community, and the Shootout is an event that has grown to become more than a fundraiser: it is a big party with our friends and family. We thank all those who participated, volunteered, donated and supported the Shootout.
We will be back in 2017 to do it all again.
