Making the winning basket

DENVER - When you can hear the swish of a basketball going through a net, you know you have incredible seats.

Jacob Haughton and his family are sitting courtside. They even got the chance to watch the Nuggets warm up for their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Everything looks bigger from here, especially to an 11-year-old boy.

"All the players are like six foot and they are a lot taller than my Dad," Jacob said.

As incredible as the seats on the court are, Jacob and his family are most excited about what is happening about 50 rows up.

"The more people we get up there, the more money that will help," said Jacob as he scans the seats in the upper section.

The Nuggets are donating $6 from every upper level ticket to a cause Jacob cares more about that any sporting event.

He has found a way to make basketball nets, and soccer nets, save a child's life.

"I want to get as much money as I can for mosquito nets to protect people from Malaria," said Jacob.

His interest in philanthropy started when Jacob and his family took a class called "Red Card." He learned about kids his age in Africa who are sick and dying from something a simple net can prevent.

"I knew I wanted to help people," he added.

Jacob decided to get pledges during this year's soccer season. 21 goals for his team translated into $1,200 for mosquito nets to help stop the spread of Malaria.

The Nuggets organization heard about his efforts and offered their nets as well.

By game time on January 19, despite it being a school night and there being a snow storm, Jacob watched the seats that matter most fill up.

"There are a lot of people!" Jacob said with a huge smile.

Sitting in section 317, another person is scanning the crowd. She taught the "Red Card" class that first inspired Jacob.

"It is so great to see how many kids are going to have mosquito nets because of this night and Jacob's heart to help," said Tami Snowden as she scans the crowd.

As she counts the seats, she is blown away.

Sheri Haughton, Jacob's Mom, hopes other families are inspired by what her son has done.

"It doesn't have to be big, but it can make a big difference in the lives of others," she said.

"Don't not try," Jacob adds. "Just think about it, and then see if you can help."

Jacob Haughton has been named the volunteer of the year for His Nets. You can find more information at www.hisnets.org.

To learn more about Red Card, visit www.redcardkids.org.

(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)