Become An Ambassador
WHD is looking for Ambassadors to travel with hoops and give them to children in need. Please download this form, fill it out, scan it in and send it back to us 1 of 2 ways. If you are seeking funding, the average amount we can award is $100. We can only afford to pay for hoop material. We greatly advise you to have hoop-a-thon fundraisers, car-washes, bake sales, for example. Many of our Ambassadors locate tubing and connector for much less the cost of buying in the US and shipping or paying the airlines. I still encourage you to fill out the form so we can add you to our growing list of Healing Hoopers. Generally, there are more funds to disperse post World Hoop Day.
If you have an electronic signature and prefer email, send us your form to:
annie (at) worldhoopday (dot) com.
You can also drop it in the mail:
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Ambassador: Annie O'Keeffe, Founder & Creator
Drop: Mexico, New York, California
Location: Cozumel, Guaymas, San Carlos, Playa del Carmen, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, San Francisco, Treasure Island
From: born in Chicago, grew up in Kansas City, 15 years in NYC, current residence in Pacifica, Ca
Date: May 5, 2005 - Present
As a child, Annie Leffingwell O'Keeffe hooped for fun. Around May 5, 2005, she thought it would be great to have an international holiday for hooping, but that blossomed into a dream to have the whole world hoop for peace by December 2012.
To accomplish this goal, she knew hoops would have to be donated to those who could not afford one. She spent four months of 2005 traveling through Russia, the Alps, France, Scandinavia and the British Isles talking about World Hoop Day. She continues her travels and gifting as often as possible, making 1-2 trips a year to a new place where dozens of children become happy hoop owners.
The photo to the right is Hoopin' Annie (in white) donating hoops to local children of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
2010
2009
2008
- Bay Area Hoopers donate over 333 hoops to the Boys' & Girls' Club and Girl Scouts of America on Treasure Island
- Hoopnotica donates one palette of 100 collapsible travel hoops to WHD SF
- HoopGirl donates one box of 25 instructional DVDs and 6 classes in SFMichele (IN) started a Hoop Vitality and took the hoop making t o the schools October
- Michele (IN) started a Hoop Vitality and took the hoop making t o the schools October
- Jo and Rachael from the UK took hoops and made them in Palestine and Israel September
- Melody Moezzi of Hooping for Peace (Atlanta, GA) developed a creative social movement promoting peace and social justice around the world in September
- Annie & Kevin of WHD (SF) and Steve aka Hoop Daddy (SF) donated 10 hoops total to San Francisco's Walden House, a home for rehabilitating alcoholics in September
- Danielle of Hoopelation (WI) visits Rwanda in Fall 2008
- Diana of Body Hoops (Ojai, CA) returned from Mexico in September and donated 30 hoops to Fundacion La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico August-September
- Gina of WonderWhirl Hoops (FL) donated Lil' Orbit hoops to Charlotte County YMCA
Summer Camp & the Boys & Girls Club July (her photo from 888 is to the right) -
Dove from NY is volunteering with the Peace Corps from August 2008-2010 in Cape Verde, Africa and will lead the communities in hoop making and playing.
- Kevin (SF) moved to California in 2008 and gave 14 hoops upon arrival in May
- Kevin & Annie & Jewels & Wheylan & Amanda & Stefan (NY) of GrooveHoops attended BodySculpt and gave away 75 hoops, April
- Stefan of GrooveHoops (NY) visited Cuba and gave hoops, March
- Melanie of Asheville Hoops (NC) visited Jamaica in 2008 and gave 13 hoops.
- Annie & Kevin (NY) visited Mexico and gave 26 hoops, January
777
- Annie & Kevin & Stefan give away 113 hoops to NYC residents on World Hoop Day
2007
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Stefan (NY) visited Costa Rica and gave 6 hoops.
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Annie (NY) visited Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Mexico and gave 16 hoops December '06 - January '07
2006
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Anna (UK) visited Sri Lanka a
nd taught local communities how to make hoops with basic materials -
Julah (NC) visited Haiti and taught local communities how to make hoops
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Danielle (WI) visited Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands in Spring
2005
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Annie (NY) travels with hoops to European Union and Eastern Europe to spread the word of World Hoop Day – a day of Peace & Giving, June-October
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Ambassador: Natasha of Pixie Hoops
Hoop Drop: Fiji
Location: Taveuni
From: Canada
Dates: December 2009 - Present
Bula Annie,
We are in Fiji to live perman
ently, we have a very dynamic dream set up here. We are working in Fiji to develop a youth circus in the outer islands. We are be based in Taveuni, third largest island in Fiji.
Volunteer instruction includes circus arts, performance, dance, costuming and of course Hooping!
Pixie Hoops made and shipped over 50 Hoops that will arrive in Fiji in February. The children are more excited about the Hoops then anything - hooping make the world go round!!
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Ambassador: Natalie
Hoop Drop: Mazatlan
Location: Mexico
From: Bend, OR, USA
Dates: October 2009 - 2010
I am currently living in Mazatlan, Mexico for a year to study at Tec de Monterrey University. After this year, I plan to return to Vancouver, BC to finish my degree in Latin American Studies. As soon as I am finished with school, my goal is to travel for a few years from Mexico through Central America and eventually end up in Ecuador.
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Ambassador: Megan
Hoop Drop: Paraguay
From: Chicago
Dates: August 2009 - 2011
Hey there Annie! I'm living in Paraguay as a peace corps volunteer right now. The children in my community and I have a juice and game day about every other week and they and I love to hula hoop and I want to spread and expand their love by donating these children their own, family, hoop, and this way they don´t have to fight over mine anymore. You can check out my blog, I have a few pics of some kids hooping: www.meganliggett.blogspot.com.
Thanks for doing what you're doing!
Much luck and love,
Megan
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Ambassador: Jessikah Towle
Drop: Casa de Milagros Orphanage (Chandler Sky)
Location: Cusco, Peru, South America
From: New York, USA
Date: March 2009
Recently, while traveling Peru, I was given a grant from World Hoop Day to make hoops as an offering to the children at “Casa de Milagros” which is a home for orphaned children, just outside of Cusco.
I am continuously humbled by the power of the hoop. Over and over, I have seen the magic of this large, plastic, circle, bring so much joy and healing as it whirls and spins around the human form, like a ring around a planet.
The children at “Casa de Milagros” were no exception. I did not give the children the hoops right away. Since I was going to be there for a few days, I decided to wait and get into their rhythm first. There was school, chores, homework, then dinner. I figured between homework and dinner was going to be the best opportunity for playing with the hoop. On the second day, I brought the hoops out, and before I could even get close to unwrapping them the kids had their hands all over them. There were literally squeals of delight, and they got right to it. In Peru they call it “hula hula” not pronouncing the h’s so it sounds more like “ula ula”.
I picked up my hoop, and showed them some tricks, and I kid you not, for the next three days every free moment they had, they spent hooping. It was fun and challenging to offer trick tips. Luckily there was a native English-speaking boy living there as well, whose parents have responsibility for the run of the place. He was able to translate for me with ease. In my short amount of time with the children, many became apprentices to the hoop.
Even while traveling in remote areas of the jungle, and on mountain buses the sight of the hoop brought a smile to all who came in contact. That is the magical part for me, to see the light spark in people just from the sight.
See her video on our Facebook Group Page.
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Ambassador: Dia
Hoop Drop: Proyecto Montezuma
Location: Montezuma, Costa Rica, Central America
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Dates: February - August 2009
I started a hoop group in Montezuma for all ages. We have designated Proyecto Montezuma as a donation spot for anyone traveling who would like to donate hoops for t
he children, or volunteer their time to make hoops with the kids at the school. Kerri, the program director, will make sure that they get them. I'll be here until August but I'm trying to set it up so that the children in the community are able to receive hoops long after I leave! If you want more info on Proyecto Montezuma check out www.proyectomontezuma.blogspot.com.
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Ambassador: Melanie MacNeil of Asheville Hoops
Drop: Deep Ripple Second Annual Kids Fair
Location: Negril, Jamaica, West Indies
From: Asheville, NC
Date: January 2009
Melanie returns from her second Negril, Jamaican trip, partially funded by WHD. Asheville Hoops mission is, “To spread the joy of Hoop dancing to people of all ages.” What a gift to be able to extend this mission in Negril, Jamaica, W.I. She writes, "While in Jamaica, the locals loved to see the hoops. Ironically there is a recent “Dancehall Reggae” track by artist “Macka Diamond” called the Hula-Hoop. The Hula Hoop is referred to as the “ula-ooh”....
The children immediately pulled the hoops out and began to roll, spin, toss, hook and dance with the hoops, playing in new ways I had never known or expected. Many of the children in wheelchairs simply “wore” them around their chairs. Others simply held onto them as the tangible experience of the colorful tube in hand was just as blissful as hooping them on the body." Check out her photos of the Kid's Fair here. Check out her orphanage trip here.
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Ambassador: Emily
Hoop Drop: Peace Corps
Location: Paraguay
From: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Dates: December 2008 - 2010
I am a Peace Corps volunteer serving in rural Paraguay until December 2010. Coming up in August is Día del Niño (Day of the Child), and I thought hula-hopping would be a perfect way to celebrate the inner and outer child. Plus, I´m an avid hopper myself. My site is located in the department of Guairá, in the middle of nowhere, Paraguay.
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Ambassador: AC Fiberalchemist
Drop: Walden House Rehabilitation Center
Date: September 15, 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Received: 10 Hoops
Dear World Hoop Day,
Thanks to such a generous comunity! Wow, what a smile those hoops put on the people's faces Sunday at Walden House circa 3:15ish. I just delivered a few to them, so they can practice when I am not around. It was so funny, the intake worker started hooping in the middle of their fancy hallway reception area. It was a riot.
Thanks to "World Hoop Day" for their generous donations in making this effort possible and for arranging the Door-to-Door delivery service. Totally cool.
Sincerely,
AC Fiberalchemist
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Ambassador: Dove
Drop: U.S. Peace Corps
Location: Cape Verde, Africa
From: NY
Date: August 2008-2010
Ambassador: Jo & Rachel
Drop: Refugee Homes in Palestine and Israel
Location: Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East
From: The United Kingdom
Date: August - September 2008
Hi Annie,
I'm currently in east Jerusalem, working with the international solidarity movement. We had hoop making and hula sessions as part of a summer club in the Salfeet region, and we have been doing hoop
ing with the grandchildren of the family, who's house is under siege.
We have lots of tape left over and you can by the pipe here everywhere! So as I have another 2 weeks here, I will buy some more pipe and continue to make and give away hoops. Hope all is well with you, salaam xx
I'll get on trying to put these pictures up! To see them... Click here.
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Ambassador: Kaya
Hoop Drop: Embracing Project
Location: Liberia, Africa
From: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Dates: June 2008 - Present
Kaya from Luv2Hoop.com has donated hoops to the Embracing Project for the Child Soldiers living in refugee camps in Liberia, Africa. The Embracing project works actively in their community exposing inner city youth to global issues that affect other youths around the world. www.embracingproject.org.
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Ambassador: Melanie MacNeil of Asheville Hoops
Drop: Deep Ripple First Annual Kids Fair
Location: Negril, Jamaica, West Indies
From: Asheville, NC
Date: March 2008
I decided to assume my role instead as an ambassador of fun, health and creativity. I knew my work in Jamaica was to spread the good word about hoops. I felt inspired to bring the positive energy that hoops can generate to the West End of Jamaica. I was connected to the Deep Blue Ripple organizers and soon became involved with the 1st Annual Kids Fair held in Negril. I was thrilled! 
After connecting on Tribe.net with Hoopin' Annie, some simple networking led to a grant from World Hoop Day. With that support, I was able to construct, transport and contribute 13 kid's hoops. After school ended around 3pm, the kids slowly filed in to create a wild and active event! The kids recognized the Hoops immediately and in an exciting frenzy, they were quickly pros. With instant smiles and an eagerness to learn, the kids swept throughout the park like a storm! I spent 3 hours playing, teaching, laughing and adventuring with these bright-eyed and energetic sponges.
Overall, my travels taught me a new appreciation for life. As the hoop represents a sense of oneness and wholeness, I saw the children as reflective, shiny mirrors glowing back at me. The language of laughter, music, and art were global, and with the help of the hoops, we transcended through language, culture and boundaries to reach a common ground: FUN! See photos here!
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Ambassador: Mariana
Hoop Drop: São Paulo
Location: Brazil
From: Porto Alegre, Brazil
Dates: 2006- present
My name is Mariana and I have long been an ambassador of hooping in Porto Alegre (since 2006), and my website is http://bambambam.wordpress.com
This year I decided to do something for World Hoop Day, because I feel the city might finally be ready. This is a city with a very strong park culture, and hoops are naturally compatible with this kind of mentality (although people tend to fear what they don't know). I have turned many strangers into hoop lovers, but I have come to a point where I cannot afford my hoop-donating habits any longer.
I am not quite travelling but planning to become an ambassador in my city (Porto Alegre). I have been making hoops and giving them away (and spreading the word) since 2006, and this year I am planning to hold a 'make your own hoop' workshop on World Hoop Day, in a park where lots of street kids go. However, I do not have the funds to buy the necessary material to hold an event this size, as I usually spend more or less 4 dollars per hoop (in Brazilian reais, current exchange rate).
I am speaking at a Pecha Kucha event next week (http://pecha-kucha.org/