Sophomore Kelsey Tullos picks up the phone and dials an unfamiliar number. As the phone begins to ring the girl's heart beats faster as she readies herself for the conversation. An unknown voice answers with a weary tone, curious who's on the other line. She hesitates, then nervously reads through the script, her voice shaking as she asks for a donation for Trinity Mother Frances Hospital.

Tullos was one of the 14 Key Club members who recently helped raise $15,000 for the Children's Miracle Network Phon- A-Thon. CMN director Robin Rowan's goal was to raise $14,000.

"We did very good and went over our goal," Rowan said. "I was so proud of our volunteers."

Last year the phon-a-thon raised about $15,000, which equaled the amount raised this year.

Bullard Key Club members participated for the third consecutive year as part of their Summer Season of Service Project. On May 6 and 7 volunteers called past donors to help celebrate the 21- year anniversary of the phon-athon and raise money for Children Miracle Network.

Participating members were sophomores Tullos, Teja King, Heather Berryhill, juniors Katlin Timmons, Lara Buysman, David Moody, Mo Gordon, Haley Bauman, Tabitha Kersey, Rachel Wood, and seniors James Gardner, Damian Pettigrew, Donald Love, and Trent Weaver. Also sponsors Jennifer Dorsey and Tabitha Hippler attended.

"It is just a good cause that keeps funds local and helps so many local families," Hippler said.

All the funds from CMN go toward pediatric services, equipment, colorful rooms for children, comfortable rocking chairs for new moms, etc.

The largest donation was a one-time pledge for $500. Many of the volunteers said that the people they called were nice even if they didn't donate.

Member Haley Bauman said she had a woman tell her she had already donated to another charity this year but she was grateful that there are student volunteers who care.

"Most students wouldn't like to spend their afternoons on the phone with strangers, but it felt good to be a part of a great organization," Bauman said. "I hope that we earned enough to help several children."