December 11, 2008
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has joined the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) and Illinois Athletic Directors Association (IADA) in supporting the military family fundraiser, Free Throws For Heroes.
Members of IHSA boys and girls basketball teams are encouraged to participate in the one-day event, which will allow players to shoot 50 free throws to raise money for military families on Wednesday, January 21. Participants will solicit pledges from their community for each free throw made and the money raised will be passed on to families of active and veteran Illinois military families in need. Boys and girls of all grade levels are invited to participate in Free Throw for Heroes, which is just one of a number of free throw fundraising initiatives originated by Northbrook-based not-for-profit charitable organization, The Charity Stripe.
“Being able to team up with the IHSA is just huge,” said The Charity Stripe Executive Director Mitch Salzstein. “Dating back to the Original March Madness, the IHSA has always been an innovator, especially in the sport of basketball. We felt like the ideals driving Free Throws For Heroes matched the values that the IHSA promotes through sportsmanship initiatives like Do What’s Right. The IHSA has several other programs that have been successful in helping students give back to their communities and we are excited about Free Throws For Heroes joining that realm.”
IBCA President Jim Tracy echoed Salzstein’s sentiments. “When Mitch (Salzstein) approached the IBCA with his vision for Free Throws For Heroes, our Board was unanimously in support. We knew that the support and cooperation of the IHSA would be necessary to really make this a statewide event that encompasses the entire basketball community. With the support of the IHSA and IADA, a lot of young people are going to have an opportunity to come together and give back to those less fortunate.”
The IHSA and Susan G. Komen for the Cure teamed up in girls volleyball earlier this year, as IHSA schools sponsored over 100 Volley for the Cure matches in the fall. The Volley for the Cure matches encouraged pink attire for players and fans along with a multitude of activities to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
“The success of programs like Volley for the Cure have helped pave the way for the IHSA to get involved in Free Throws For Heroes,” said IHSA Assistant Executive Director Kurt Gibson. “We see the worth in getting students involved in these types of programs and how much of an effect our high school teams can have. We hope that coaches will take advantage of these opportunities and help show their kids the bigger picture.”
Anyone interested in participating in Free Throws For Heroes can visit The Charity Stripe website for more information or click here to register for the event.
“The whole concept just fits together so well,” added Salzstein. “Free throws undeniably determine the outcome of basketball games and now, free throws can help determine the positive outcome of people’s lives and that’s what the charity stripe is all about. It doesn’t matter if you are the star of your team or the last guy on the bench, anyone and everyone can step up to the free throw line on Wednesday, January 21 and make the shot that matters the most...to literally be a hero to our military heroes.”