World Series Challenge: Root for Teams, Give to Hurricane Relief

With the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians headed for the World Series, the bishops of the teams' home United Methodist regional conferences have set up a challenge to support the teams by giving to hurricane relief.

Here's the weekend release announcing the challenge:

Fans have waited a long time to see one of these teams win The Fall Classic ... 1908 for the Cubs, 1948 for the Indians!  Who will it be in 2016: world-champion Chicago Cubs or world-champion Cleveland Indians?

Bishop Sally Dyck of the Northern Illinois Conference and Bishop Tracy S. Malone of the East Ohio Conference want to challenge you to show your support for either team and your conference by donating to Haiti and Hurricane Matthew relief through UMCOR. (Ironically Bishop Dyck hails from East Ohio and Bishop Malone from Chicago, but be sure that they're cheering for their annual conference teams.)

By giving to support of your favorite team, your dollars will make a difference to those impacted by this devastating storm which has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced many more people. Whether the Cubs or Indians win, we all "win" by giving a little more toward relief to Haiti.

"Bishop Malone and I are excited to help generate some additional funds to go toward Hurricane Matthew relief by encouraging a little good-spirited competition between our "home" annual conferences and their baseball teams. Both teams are "heartbreakers," having missed out on winning the World Series for decades so we want to make sure that both annual conferences and their baseball fans have something to celebrate at the end! Please join us in giving generously," said Bishop Dyck.

"Bishop Dyck and I are partnering on a creative idea to take advantage of the energy here in East Ohio for our Cleveland Indians and the enthusiasm in Northern Illinois for the Cubs," said Bishop Malone.  "It excites me to provide a missional opportunity and challenge that will both support our respective teams and raise funds for the relief and recovery efforts in Haiti. I invite you to join us in seizing the opportunity to make a difference for Christ by making a financial contribution. Proceeds from this challenge will go to our brothers and sisters in Haiti."

Contributions can be made through UMCOR's international relief fund (Advance #982450) which will tally the amounts for each conference.

To donate online:

  • Click here to Donate Now.
  • Submit your donation information
  • Enter your state and the name of your church -  so the conference and your church receive credit
  • Click Submit
  • To donate by phone, please call 1-888-252-6174.

The donation challenge ends on November 2, 2016. Follow updates on Facebook and Twitter with hashtag #wshaitichallenge.

Thank you for supporting the people of Haiti through your loyalty to the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. Together we are transforming the world!