Since the school's opening in 2011, Heritage Middle School has participated in the United Medical Center Miracle Pennies fundraiser. Each year, the National Junior Society organizes dress-up days and events to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.
Over the years they have raised funds through various events such as taping a teacher to the wall, jousting competitions, and even had an "I Beat Pete" Hamster Ball race challenge. For the last four years, HMS has held a dodgeball tournament among the grades. This tradition is a major contributor to their annual Miracle Pennies fundraiser.
The tournament featured four brackets, one for girls and three divided by grade levels. Each team paid a registration fee, while classes could contribute an admission fee to watch the action unfold each period. With 52 teams competing and countless students cheering from the sidelines, the event dodged expectations and brought in an impressive $4,662.53 for the Children's Miracle Network.
“This is the most we've raised, and we are so excited to provide this donation,” said Kim Thompson, the NJHS sponsor at HMS. “Every year, our tournament gets bigger, and the kids get more involved, and it is just a great way to fundraise and support a great cause!”
Heritage NJHS plans to continue this tournament each year with the goal of surpassing the previous year’s final amount. Frenship ISD has a long history of participating in the Miracle Pennies Fundraiser and was named the 2024 Overall District Fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network.
Heritage’s commitment to giving back was evident throughout the tournament, as students rallied together for a meaningful cause. Thompson emphasized that the students embodied the program’s motto: “Kids helping Kids.”
“We hope by participating and raising awareness, our students can see that serving and helping others is awesome and rewarding," said Thompson. “Knowing that the proceeds stay here in Lubbock and at UMC, our small part can lead to a lasting impact for the whole community!”
This year’s overall tournament champion was the 7th-grade team. Thank you to all the students who participated and contributed to this incredible fundraiser.
Photos by: Ryan Thurman, Social Studies Teacher