Archbishops Raises $20K For Catholic Education
Ahead of the 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, two Catholic leaders, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles and Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, made a charitable wager to support Catholic schools in their respective cities. The bet was structured to raise funds for the Catholic Education Foundation of Los Angeles and the John Cardinal O’Connor School in New York. The terms were simple: the winning city’s archdiocese would receive 60% of the raised funds, while the losing city’s archdiocese would receive the remaining 40%.
The initiative, called #BaseballUnites, successfully raised over $20,000 for Catholic education. Following the Dodgers’ victory in the World Series, 60% of the funds, totaling $12,058.80, went to the Catholic Education Foundation of Los Angeles, while the remaining $8,039.20 was sent to the John Cardinal O’Connor School in New York. The campaign attracted widespread support from donors, highlighting the spirit of friendly competition for a good cause.
After the Dodgers’ win, both Gomez and Dolan expressed gratitude for the success of the campaign. Dolan congratulated the Dodgers and humorously reminded Gomez of the promise to send New York bagels, a lighthearted gesture as part of their bet. Gomez thanked participants for their contributions and expressed excitement about receiving the bagels, enjoying the camaraderie of the friendly wager.
This wasn’t Archbishop Gomez’s first time engaging in such a charitable bet. In 2022, he made a similar wager with Archbishop Dennis Schurr of Cincinnati during the Super Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. That campaign raised over $22,000, benefiting the Catholic Education Foundation of Los Angeles after the Rams’ victory.
These charitable wagers have become a unique way for Catholic leaders to unite their communities, using sports rivalries as a platform for raising money for important educational causes. The #BaseballUnites initiative not only fostered goodwill but also made a significant impact, raising substantial funds to support schools in both Los Angeles and New York.