Taking A Second Chance - By Austin Gutwein

This past week I had the opportunity to go to Baltimore with the Revolve Tour. As we drove through downtown on our way to our hotel, several homeless people caught my eye. I looked at one of them, and like most people, my first inclination was to turn away. Just turn my head and look away. I wanted to pretend like this person was not even there. Like he didn’t even exist. How many times do we do this? We see a man holding a sign off the freeway, or a child on our TV in need and our first thought is to just look away. Sometimes we think it is best to pretend like they aren’t even there. I wanted to do this too when I saw this man. But I knew the incredible power of a second glance. My heart said to give something to him. And I had the chance but then it was gone. The car resumed its course. I knew the incredible power of a second glance but did I take it? No, and I wish I did.

When we make a difference we are taking a second glance. When we help someone in need, we are taking a second glance. Instead of just saying, “that’s too bad” we are doing something about it. Just doing what we can is enough. Whether it is making a difference for 1 or 100 - it’s making a difference.

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Do Something Bigger Than You - By Austin Gutwein

This is a blog I just posted for ThinkMTV. - Austin

Doing something bigger than yourself doesnt depend on your ability it depends on your availability. That phrase was so true in my life. Because if you were to look at my ability I was definitely not “qualified”. But you see making a difference isnt about how qualified you are or about how popular you are, it’s about how willing you are. And I realized that as my adventure began.

My adventure began six years ago after I watched a video about a girl who had lost her parents to AIDs. I began thinking about it and for a nine year old it was scary. I didnt know what this thing called AIDs even was. All I knew is that it was leaving kids without their parents. I couldnt imagine living without my parents and yet 15 million kids had to go through this. If you dont think thats a big number, think of it this way - If 15 million kids linked hands and stood in a straight line, they would go from Los Angeles to New York and back again 5? times!

I knew I had to do something. My ability didnt make a difference to me. A man from World Vision encouraged me to use my favorite sport to make a difference. So I started a free throw marathon called Hoops of Hope. Over the past six years we have raised of 1.5 million dollars to help children orphaned by AIDs. We have built a school and two health clinics in and AIDs ravaged region of Zambia. 100% of what we raise goes to help these kids.

I learned early on that I was not popular (Im still not) or good at basketball but that didnt stop me. And I would encourage you as you read this to know that you, no matter what your skills or age, can make a difference. It’s about your availability. It’s about how willing you are to make a difference. Making a difference doesnt have to be some big huge ordeal. In fact, you can make a difference by simply picking up trash, helping at the homeless shelter, recycling. Only you know what your passionate about and only you know whose life is going to be forever changed because of you.

This year I have an amazing opportunity to encourage my generation to do just that. It is my second year with an incredible conference called the Revolve Tour. This all-teen girls event really motivates my generation to get involved in changing lives. We certainly arent doing it because of our ability. The girls at the Revolve Tour are passionate about making a difference and theyre doing just that. Were stuffing backpacks with school supplies, and a warm blanket and were going to deliver them to the school in Africa next summer. It is so motivating for me to see 8,000 girls each weekend come together ready to change the world. They care about seeing lives changed. And that is what I would encourage you to do. Whether youre a teenager like me, a grandparent, or somewhere in between, care. You can make an impact and it can start today.

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Revolve Book Pack Giveaway!

We’re giving away FOUR Revolve Tour Book Packs including: Guys are Waffles, Girls are Spaghetti by Chad Eastham; Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado; and Take Your Best Shot by Austin Gutwein. Enter here for your chance to win!

Take Your Best Shot by Austin Gutwein

Take Your Best Shot by Austin Gutwein

The story of Austin’s amazing adventure from ordinary kid to founder of Hoops of Hope.

Download Chapter 1

Hoops of Hope

Hoops of Hope is the largest free throw shoot-a-thon in the world. It was started by Austin Gutwein in 2004 when he was just 9 years-old. Thousands have joined Austin to help raise hundreds of thousands of dollars providing care for children impacted by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Take the Revolve Tour/Hoops of Hope Challenge!