ONU's Hamilton will skydive to help the poor in Tanzania

By Olivia Lindsey
Ada Herald Correspondent

Ohio Northern University's Director of Alumni Affairs, Ann E. Donnelly Hamilton, is counting down the days until February 19 when she will jump out of a plane in Orlando, Florida from eighteen thousand feet. Why will Hamilton be skydiving from the highest jump site in the states? She and twenty-four others from across the country will be jumping to raise money that will go to help poverty stricken Tanzanians and as Hamilton says, they are "the type of group of people who want to go all out."


The fundraiser is sponsored by Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO), an organization that developed out of Opportunity International that calls itself "a network of passionate, globally-minded young professionals who are dedicated to providing economic opportunities for people living in chronic poverty." The skydiving event was created by a member of YAO, Jason Duff, who is one of Ohio Northern's own alumni. Duff, who graduated in 2005, is an ambassador for Opportunity International, the owner of COMSTOR Outdoor Ltd. and Duff Quarry, and a member of The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration Advisory Board and the Alumni Board. He has also received a number of awards for his success in entrepreneurship. Now, he is focusing on the success of his upcoming event, Jump for Opportunity.

Ann Hamilton became involved in Jump for Opportunity when Duff began planning the event over eight months ago. Hamilton, who graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1999 and began as the Director of Alumni Relations in 2004, is one of five members on the event's coordinating board. Now, with the jump so close, she beams with excitement and says that skydiving is something she has "always wanted to do." She says the event will be "phenomenal" and that it will be "great to bring everyone together from all over the globe." When asked how she feels about doing something as daring as skydiving she responds that she is "going in blindly but with faith."

The initial goal for the event was to raise $50,000, meaning that each participant would be responsible for collecting $2,000 in donations for jumping. However, two of the team's Canadian members have already managed to collect $44,000, so the event is expected to exceed its goal significantly. One hundred percent of the money raised will go toward micro financing in Tanzania, which is providing small business loans that, as Duff writes on the Jump for Opportunity website, "is a vehicle that can empower an entire family to create or expand a business." Businesses such as sewing, basket making, restaurants, and grocery and supply stores will help the people of Tanzania to make better lives for themselves. Duff says, "Instead of giving a hand out, it's giving a hand up."

Ultimately Duff says, "I am excited and inspired to pull together a group of young people that are going to be pushing the limits, stepping out of our comfort zones, and completely defying gravity."

Members of the Ada community can help the Jump for Opportunity team to defy gravity by making donations online at either http://www.optinnow.org/fundraisers/ann or http://www.optinnow.org/fundraisers/jasonduff.

Though Ada is a small village, it can make a big impact by donating to the event and could even double its initial $50,000 goal. Ada residents can also help by wishing Ann Hamilton, Jason Duff, and the other twenty-three skydivers a safe and exhilarating jump.