The “Tap-Tap” is packed up and ready to head for the airport. We will be in 4 airports today with several hour layovers in each. A great week of Hoops…we were able to bring our message of Hope and Love.

This photo was taken during an actual game; he received a new pair of shoes just after the game with a big smile.

Manno Luguerre, the director of the school and with whom we are staying, received the first pair of basketball shoes off the truck . . . White and navy blue Adidas, size 8.5.

Currently sitting in PaP (Port-au-Prince) airport waiting for our charter to Cap (Cap Hatien). We are actually in an entirely different airport (or a different part ofthe airport at least) than we were when we arrived. We had to load up all of our bags (we were able to “move” through customs very quickly.) We paid $145 to N’Daire and his crew who were designated to “guide” us through baggage claim and then to the bus and then to the other airport (where we are now) so we can catch our charter to Cap. We “tipped” the police $25 and we moved through “the crowd” fairly quickly.

We just arrived at the Port-au-Prince airport. From what we are being told, immagration and baggage claim has changed dramatically since the January earthquake. We are currently standing in a long line in order to get through immigration.

It is really amazing to see all of the different teams from the US (especially) and from around the world providing humanitarian and missionary services.

Everyone has arrived safe and everyone appears to be excited to be here.

Through Hoops!

Several weeks ago we packed up 604 pairs of basketball shoes, over 500 basketball uniforms and 180 basketballs. We have received confirmation that the container arrived in Haiti; we’re just not sure if everything is in Pillatre. We will know for sure in a couple of days . . .

This article was published in The Pantagraph and it is also posted on www.pantagraph.com.  The author is Randy Kindred.

Used to be Mark Aubry’s basketball contributions were measured in points. He scored a ton of them while leading Seneca High School to second place in the 1991 Class A State Tournament, and later had a team-high 445 points as an Illinois Wesleyan junior.

The focus is different now. The quick trigger finger has morphed into a helping hand. The assist is what matters, and it goes well beyond setting up a teammate.

Aubry, his wife, Sarah, and Aubry’s cousin, Adam Provance, have organized a “Hoops for Haiti” mission designed to take “Hope and Love through Basketball” to the impoverished nation.

The vision came months before a Jan. 12 earthquake ravaged Haiti and, with the blessing of Haitian Christian Ministries director Manno Laguerre, Aubry and his group will see it through.

Between March 19 and 27, they will conduct a youth basketball camp in Pillatre, Haiti, with as many as 1,000 boys and girls expected to attend throughout the week.

“We were trying to figure out if they still wanted us to do the camp (following the earthquake),” Aubry said. “Manno Laguerre sent an e-mail saying ‘it’s a great opportunity for our children to see love and hope instead of chaos.’

“He used the same words as our theme. We felt like, ‘It’s supposed to happen and we will move forward with this.’ ”

The group has received donations from basketball programs in several states. Roughly 600 pairs of basketball shoes, 500 uniforms and 150 basketballs will be shipped to Haiti in time for the camp.

They will be used long after the camp is over because of the devastating earthquake.

“What little resources they had have become so strained,” Aubry said. “When we started looking into doing the camp, we realized kids there don’t have shoes, let alone basketball shoes. They will be very happy to wear them as normal shoes and clothes (afterward).”

Aiding the cause will be a “Whiteout” Friday night when University High School plays host to Central Catholic in a boys’ basketball game.

White T-shirts have been sold at both schools, with roughly $5 from each going to “Hoops for Haiti.” The expectation is to clear about $1,500.

The event, organized by U High coach Bob Fitzgerald, will help defray costs of a trip nearly a year in the making.

The seed was planted in March 2009 when Sarah Aubry, a former Normal Community and Illinois State soccer player, conducted a soccer camp in Pillatre. While there, the Eastview Christian Church group she was with built an outdoor basketball court.

When Laguerre suggested his people would like to learn “American basketball,” the conversation quickly turned to Mark Aubry.

He eagerly accepted, despite being managing director of two investment-related businesses and having two young children. Another is on the way, meaning Sarah Aubry will not make the trip.

“It’s a great way for me to use the skills and opportunities I was given to give back and share with others,” Mark Aubry said.

“What a great opportunity to do it with people who are truly in need.”

Donations can be made at www.hoopsforhaiti.org. Those donating $25 or more receive a T-shirt. Support also can be shown by wearing white to Friday night’s game.

“I’ve come across a lot of people saying, ‘We want to help Haiti, but we don’t know how,’ ” Aubry said.

“Something as simple as buying a T-shirt can help.”

On February 19th, the Normal University High School Pioneers will be hosting the Bloomington Central Catholic Saints.  This is a fierce rivalry that has the two opponents coming together to support Hoops for Haiti.

The schools are currently selling white T-Shirts with the Hoops for Haiti logo on the front and each school’s logo on the back.  The U-High shirts are white with green print and the Central shirts are white with blue print.

Hoops for Haiti thanks the two schools, the basketball programs and especially U-High Coach Bob Fitzgerald, who is organizing the “White Out”.