On Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, Tracy High’s boys basketball team faced Lodi High. The student section was St. Jude–themed, with students wearing black and gold to show support for the organization. Throughout the game, ASB President Jake Hallen walked around the stands asking community members if they were willing to donate.
Hallen said it was easier to move through the stands and explain the organization’s mission because of the smaller crowd. “Basketball dog pounds are closer knit, and the entire audience is in front of you,” Hallen said. “Your students are right in front of you, and you’re able to tell them exactly what they’re there for and to promote St. Jude’s.”
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is an organization that covers the full cost of its patients’ treatment, including travel, housing and food, allowing families to focus on their children. Its mission is to “advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.”
Senior Dayson Balsano said he was pleased with the outcome of the fundraiser. “I think we got really good donations and hope this is something that gets continued throughout the years,” Balsano said.
The event also helped raise awareness about the organization. Junior Ezra Morales said, “The game was cool because not many people think about St. Jude’s or really know what they do, so it was nice to show support for them.”
By the end of the game, the Bulldogs won 66-59, but the focus extended beyond the final score. The event brought the community together to support children in need, emphasizing that the money raised mattered more than the outcome of the game.
