Bishops Bet on World Series, With Charity on the Line

A friendly bet between two high-ranking Catholic officials has turned the 2026 World Series into a charity event for the Tampa Bay and Milwaukee regions. Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg and Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob of Milwaukee have agreed to wager items and charitable donations based on the outcome of the baseball championship. The arrangement is designed to raise funds for local organizations while maintaining a competitive spirit between the two dioceses.

The terms of the wager are specific and tied to the local identities of the teams involved. If the Milwaukee Brewers win the series, Parkes will donate to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He will also send a box of hand-rolled cigars, a Tampa Bay specialty, to Grob. Conversely, if the Tampa Bay Rays prevail, Grob will donate to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He will also send bratwurst from Milwaukee’s Bunzel’s Meat Market to Florida.

Parkes explained the rationale behind the bet, noting that such wagers are common among bishops when their cities' teams compete. “It’s not uncommon for bishops and archbishops to make friendly wagers when their cities’ teams face off,” Parkes said. He emphasized that the goal was to make the interaction meaningful as well as entertaining. “We wanted to make the wager not only fun, but meaningful, by including a donation to Catholic Charities,” he added.

Archbishop Grob echoed the focus on the charitable aspect of the agreement. While acknowledging that each leader will cheer for their respective team, he stated that the primary benefit is for the organizations receiving the funds. “The real victory will be helping those in need through our Catholic Charities,” Grob said. The donations will support programs within each respective diocese, directly benefiting residents in both Florida and Wisconsin.

In other local news, One Day In July has opened a new investment management office in downtown St. Petersburg. The firm, which focuses on fiduciary advice and low fees, is located at 165 Fifth Ave. NE. It offers personalized wealth management and retirement planning services to clients across the Tampa Bay region. The company constructs portfolios using low-cost, tax-efficient index funds and emphasizes fee transparency.

St. Petersburg College is introducing a new specialty license plate for Florida drivers. This is the first time in the college’s nearly 100-year history that drivers can display the school on their vehicles. The plate features an SPC Titan in blue and gold, with “Florida” across the top and “St. Petersburg College” along the bottom. Annual use fees will benefit the St. Petersburg College Foundation.

The foundation will allocate 40% of the proceeds to scholarships for students in need. An additional 50% will support student-success initiatives. The remaining funds will help cover administrative costs. This initiative aims to generate ongoing revenue for educational programs and emerging technology at the college.

The Gulfport Police Department’s Operation Santa program received a $3,802.61 donation on October 20. The funds represent the proceeds from the town’s first City Run 5K. City commissioners accepted the check from the event organizers. The race was deemed a success by local officials, providing a new source of revenue for the department's holiday charity drive.

Two K9 officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department, Chip and Cimi, are set to receive new protective vests. A nonprofit organization called Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., donated the bullet and stab-resistant gear. Chip’s vest will be embroidered in memory of K9 Nero, who died in the line of duty in 2019. Cimi’s vest will honor K9 Titan, who died in 2021. The vests are expected to arrive within ten weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) charity established in 2009. It has provided over 6,677 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states. The custom-fitted, U.S.-made armor is certified by the National Institute of Justice. The donation continues the organization's mission to provide lifesaving body armor to law enforcement dogs.