Each year the Frenship High School Ninth Grade Center participates in the Children’s Miracle Network Fundraiser. All donations collected during the fundraiser go directly to UMC Children’s Hospital to fund what’s needed most.
By raising money, the NGC students are helping to provide critical life-saving treatments & healthcare services, innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays, and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services.
“I believe that participating in campaigns such as this allows our students to directly give back to the community they live in and make a positive impact on families who need it most,” said Berklee Basye, NGC Student Council Advisor.
For this year's fundraiser, the Ninth Grade Center Student Council and the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy decided to work together to raise more money for the Children’s Miracle Network. The groups came up with several ideas to bring in more money than in previous years.
The groups sold hat and pajama passes to students to use throughout the two-week-long campaign. They opened the concession stand for a “Fun Food Day” and had a bake sale on March 7th consisting of food donated by the student groups. Student council sold jean passes to the staff and the Chick-fil-A leader Academy sold raffle tickets for a basket of Chick-fil-A items.
One event that brought in a lot of money was the volleyball tournament on February 29th which students could pay to enter a team. The winning team played in the Staff vs. Student game on March 1st, and all students could buy a ticket to watch.
Aidon Braddock, the NGC Student Council President and member of the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy stated that he was proud to see all their ideas come to fruition and the students rallying together for an amazing cause.
“I think it's important for students to get involved in fundraisers like Children's Miracle Network because I believe in students helping and supporting other students,” said Braddock. “Just because we are young doesn't mean we can't make a BIG difference.”
As an incentive to raise more money, Assistant Principal Robert Martinez would be taped to the gym wall if the students raised $1,500 and Principal Justin Burrus shave his head/beard at $3,500.
At the Wrap-Up Pep Rally, it was announced that the Ninth Grade Center students raised over $4,400 for the Children’s Miracle Network. Subsequently, Martinez was taped to the wall by the students and Burrus received a fresh buzz cut.
Braddock was inspired by the show of support from his fellow students for the Children's Miracle Network and decided to shave his head alongside Burrus.
“I want to thank Mr. Burrus, Mr. Martinez, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Bayse, and Mrs. Hook for always believing in us and encouraging us to dream big,” said Braddock. “I also want to thank my fellow student body for their continued support. I am beyond proud of us for raising over 4,000 dollars for such an incredible organization.”
In addition to the celebratory events at the pep rally, the students got to hear from Shana Fry, an NGC teacher, who has been directly impacted by the Children's Miracle Network. When one of her sons was little, he had a lengthy hospital stay resulting in a large medical bill after he swallowed a marble. CMN not only provided services for him and their family, but they also helped pay their bill.
Fry has shared her experience with her students and their parents for the last 3 years; she pledges to match however much they raise as a challenge for them to donate. Because of her story, her classes alone raised almost $800.
Basye stated that the students benefited from hearing Fry’s story because it shows that the Children's Miracle Network has a much bigger impact on our community than most realize.
Check out some more pictures from the Wrap-Up Pep Rally HERE!