Here's What To Expect From Hoops 4 Hope's Summer Benefit

Hoops 4 Hope Executive Director Anthony Allison gives us a rundown of the organization and buzzes this year’s East End summer benefit.

First and foremost, talk to us about Hoops 4 Hope and its various initiatives.

Since its inception, H4H has been powered by the spirit of Ubuntu—‘I am, because we are’—and the joy of basketball. We provide young people in underserved communities in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Cape Town, South Africa, with the opportunities and fundamentals necessary to play and be happy and safe, both emotionally and physically.

What is the inspiration or driving force behind the organization?

That’s simple: improving the lives of children! There is a massive need for the work we do. Our job is to create the environment and infrastructure needed to make sustainable change in their lives and futures.

Let’s talk basketball. What is it about the sport that brings communities together? How have you seen change go beyond the court?

Players usually come from the communities in which they live, so it’s a great way for a community to get together and share in the experience of watching community kids play hoops. In his book How Basketball Can Save the World, David Hollander speaks to the values inherent to basketball… the balancing of individual success with the needs of the collective. We hear daily from the youth we work with how they use the H4H 7 Tools of an Ubuntu Champion to support their team’s success and how those values strengthen their relationships with friends, families, schools, communities, etc.

South Africa players from Philippi Village

The organization was founded nearly 30 years ago and focuses on the underserved communities in Cape Town and Harare. Can you share some of the projects and initiatives you’ve worked on over the years?

H4H started in 1995 and used basketball as a vehicle to provide HIV/AIDS education, and we continue to use basketball and our curriculum as a teaching tool in multiple areas: Health & Wellness, which includes social, emotional and mental health; Conflict Resolution; Gender Equality; and Youth Empowerment.

Are there any milestone moments you would like to share?

Honestly, the biggest milestone is that we are still in existence after almost 30 years, which is a miracle, considering the demands of raising money and working in extremely volatile and dangerous areas. Zimbabwe had a 24% increase in crime in 2022. The capital of Zimbabwe, Harare, is statistically the most dangerous province in the country. In South Africa, more than 80% of all homicides (675) in 2022/2023 were in the Western Cape, where Cape Town is located.

Girls from a group home running drills.

What are some ways the Hamptons community can get involved with the organization?

We want the East End community to learn more about our work and consider how they might provide their time, treasure or talent to help H4H. As with all NGOs, without appropriate funding, none of us can live out the mission of our work, so financial donations are critical.

We are looking forward to the Hoops 4 Hope Summer Benefit! What can you tell us about the event?

This year, on August 3 we’re combining the third annual East End 3’s Tournament with the Ubuntu After Party. The tournament will be held at the Sportime Arena in Amagansett from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Ubuntu After Party will be held at Estia’s Little Kitchen from 5 to 8 p.m.

Are there any special programs or moments you’re especially excited about this year?

Strong relationships with players, their families and communities in South Africa has increased our player retention rate to close to 75%. In Zimbabwe, we saw an increase in enrollment and engagement in all areas of our programming. What made this possible was our All-Stars and MVPs building teams and leagues and growing relationships within the communities and schools that we work with.

Is there anything new for this year that you would like to highlight?

We use community surveys to identify developing needs. For the past three years, we have focused on social emotional development and mental health. We work with other organizations to share best practice and resources to meet the need.

Anything else you would like to buzz for the summer?

Live with the spirit of Ubuntu!