History

Hoops For Heart (HFH) began in 1989, and was created by two physical educators, Scott Neal and Taryn Bachis of Albuquerque Academy in New Mexico. They held many Jump Rope For Heart events, but felt the school needed something different to get more kids involved. They decided a basketball contest would interest the students more and proposed the Hoops For Heart idea. The next year, Scott and Taryn started the event with a hot shot competition and a faculty/celebrity vs. student game at their middle school. The event was so successful they enlisted the help of the American Heart Association to spread the event to others. AHA and AAHPERD further developed the concept for Hoops For Heart, and pilot events took place in more than 40 cities in 1994. Hoops For Heart launched nationwide in the fall of 1995.

Designed to educate middle school age youth about the benefits of physical activity and to raise money to support the important work of the American Heart Association, Hoops For Heart has nearly 5000 schools across the country currently participating.