Middle School Students Net $11,528 for Heart Association

The final tallies are in, and students at Hillsborough Middle School raised a record-breaking $11,528.24 for the American Heart Association via their inaugural March Madness “Hoops 4 Heart” event.

The entire student body of HMS participated in the event during their physical education classes. Students raised money by reaching out to friends and family members for donations.

Alexandra Benadon, a seventh grader, was the top fundraiser for HMS, raising 2,125. Chris Ciccone was the second biggest fund raiser with a total of $825. HMS has participated in this fundraising since 2010.

“Our school takes great pride in its yearly involvement because the program provides students with the opportunity to set and achieve philanthropic fundraising goals while also giving students a chance to work on their basketball skills,” Richard Rosenblum, “Hoops 4 Heart” Coordinator and HMS Physical Education teacher, said. 

In addition to collecting funds for “Hoops 4 Heart,” the middle school also held a “March Madness-style” tournament in all gym classes with the winning team, “The Purple Chinchillas, a team made up of eighth-grade students Jacob Lubas, Pat Cahill, Brandon Beck, Mike Ricciardi, Ryan Watson and Eric Ross, earning basketball bragging rights for this school year.

In keeping with the importance of building character education at the middle school, each finalist of the Elite 8 bracket was going to get a small token of appreciation from Mr. Rosenblum. However, the winning team and all finalists surprised the school’s Adaptive Physical Education students whom participated in the final round with those prizes. 

“Hoops 4 Heart” is a national fundraising program that promotes physical activity, heart healthy living, and community service to students. It is co-sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. The money earned by HMS students will be donated to the American Heart Association, an organization that funds research, programs, and education to fight heart disease and stroke.

Submitted by Kia Bergman