US undergrad organizes charity event to help NorthEast

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 October 2004, 00:10 GMT]
Greg Buie, a Junior at University of California, San Diego, is organizing "Hoops for Hope," a charity basket ball tournament, for the benefit of NorthEast children with whom he spent four weeks volunteering in Jaffna 2004 summer. "Join me in sending a strong message to the youth of Northeast Sri Lanka that there is hope for a better future, and that there are those who are committed to helping them realize their dreams," Mr Buie says in his message soliciting support for the event.

The event is scheduled for 30 October at the UCSD campus on the John Muir Outdoor basketball courts from 11:00am thru 6:00pm.

Buie, a 13th generation American, who lived his entire life in middle/upper class neighborhood in Southern California has roots in the Midwest and South farming families. Both his parents are teachers, father teaches high school and his mother teaches 3rd grade. He credits his grandmother who inspired him to travel and explore the world outside of the United States. "She touched every continent in her life, including Antarctica, and her stories and drive to continue learning even in her old age while bravely battling Alzheimer's and cancer, truly makes her my inspiration in life," he adds.

Mr Buie says that it was by sheer accident that he happened to listen to a fellow student speak about the situation in Sri Lanka and the action students were taking to ameliorate the conditions there.

"...my experiences this summer were extremely meaningful and quite emotional. And I have developed a deep sense of affection towards all of the participants. I had my eyes opened to an ongoing chapter in the world's history that I didn't even know existed, and it has touched me in a powerful way," Buie says of his summer experience in North of Sri Lanka.

External Links:

ITS:		Basketball Tournament to Benefit NorthEast children
ITS:		Inspiration and Hope