Midland High football program to receive Governor’s Volunteer Award

The Midland High School football program is set to be honored for its volunteerism at the Governor’s mansion in Austin this April, according to Midland ISD.

The football program will receive the Innovation Volunteerism Award after players from 7th to 12 grades participated in a variety of volunteering opportunities for the past year to serve their community. In the photo, for example, varsity team members are participating in a school supply drive that donated items to the Boys & Girls Club.

On Feb. 2, Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, Honorary Chair of the Governor’s Volunteer Awards, announced the MHS football program as one of the recipients of the 39th Annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards. The awards were presented in conjunction with OneStar Foundation to “honor the exemplary service of individuals, groups, and organizations that have made a significant and measurable contribution to Texas communities through service and volunteering in the past year.”

According to OneStar, the Bulldogs have “developed a reputation of being the go-to for volunteers in Midland.”

“Head Coach Thad Fortune has built the MHS football program to include intentional and service leadership-based volunteer programming,” the Foundation stated. “It starts with his ‘Path of the Bulldog’ principles given to every football player and parent beginning in 7th grade through 12th grade, reaching more than 600 students. MHS Football players are led by Coach Thad in intentional and coordinated volunteer service, including summer trash pick-ups in partnership with Keep Midland Beautiful and ‘Books and Bulldogs’ summer reading programs with the Midland YMCA.”

To learn more, visit the MHS football program website here.