How It All Started

The first Hoops Against Hunger Basketball Mini-Camp was held in 1995 at William Penn High School in New Castle, Delaware on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Steve Johnson, head basketball coach at William Penn, wanted to expand the high school student-athlete's basketball experience beyond the realm of practices and contests. Coach Johnson hoped to build a bridge between the school and community that would provide a way for student-athletes, community members, and young children to come together for a worthy cause.

This notion led to the establishment of Hoops Against Hunger, a free, one-day Basketball Mini-Camp where neighborhood girls and boys are given an opportunity to learn basketball skills, establish new friendships, and give back to their community through donations of non-perishable food.

The first Mini-Camp was staffed by a diverse group of high school student-athletes, local basketball coaches, and community volunteers. Local businesses got involved by donating T-shirts, food, drinks, and funds to offset nominal Mini-Camp expenses. Parents were encouraged to stay to help in any way they felt comfortable or just to watch. 

Girls and boys in grades four through eight enjoyed an entire day of fun-filled activities. The emphasis throughout the day was having fun and making friends using basketball as the vehicle. In exchange, the children were asked to bring voluntarily donations of non-perishable food to be given to local service organizations in the community. No one was denied access to the camp. Children unable to donate canned goods enjoyed the activities, as did those bringing donations.

Coach Johnson's goal was to instill in the children, volunteers, and local businesses, the notion that giving back to the community is both rewarding and fun. He also hoped to bring together members of the community from all walks of life for a good cause. The first camp was a success and in 1996 the program grew locally from one school to two schools. In 1997, another school joined the program and in 1998 the camp doubled in size to six schools covering one end of the state of Delaware to the other. In 1999, the number of local camps grew to seven while a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America launched six national camps. In 2000, Hoops Against Hunger launched its first overseas mini-camp. Through a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a camp was held in Zama, Japan. The year 2001 saw Hoops Against Hunger grow to 15 mini-camps nationwide and 9 camps overseas. The entire program serves as a testament to the community spirit within all of us. The ultimate goal of Hoops Against Hunger, is that youngsters involved in the Mini-Camps will remember their experience and be inspired to use their abilities to better serve their communities.

In years 2002, 2003, and 2004 Hoops Against Hunger continued hosting local, national, and worldwide camp programs. Children, coaches, players, and volunteers, of all ages, came together in sport and community service. Entering its 11th year of community service in 2005, Hoops Against Hunger continues to provide free, one-day basketball mini-camps along with donating tons of non-perishable food to those in need worldwide.

As it did following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Hoops Against Hunger will again make requests for voluntary donations of money in lieu of food. In 2001, Hoops Against Hunger made a donation of over $4,000.00 to a Disaster Relief Organization. This year, with the help of generous donors, Hoops Against Hunger plans to make donations directly to families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

All the volunteers in Hoops Against Hunger exchange names and addresses in order to build a network of concerned community members who will hopefully find other ways to serve their community. Hoops Against Hunger hopes to sponsor hundreds of mini-camps around the world. These camps provide community members from all walks of life, around the world, the opportunity to come together through sport and help fight hunger and strengthen their community. Hoops Against Hunger is the perfect WIN-WIN situation.