Florida Bishops Bet on World Series Outcome: Donations and Snacks

Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg and Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob of Milwaukee have placed a friendly wager on the outcome of the 2026 World Series. The bet links the performance of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers to specific charitable acts and the exchange of regional foods.

If the Brewers win the championship, Parkes will donate to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He will also send a box of hand-rolled cigars, a specialty from Tampa Bay, to Grob. If the Rays win, Grob will donate to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg and send bratwurst from Milwaukee’s Bunzel’s Meat Market to Florida.

Parkes noted that such wagers are common among clergy when their respective cities’ teams compete. He said the goal was to make the bet fun and meaningful by including a donation to Catholic Charities. Grob added that while each man supports his own team, the primary victory is helping those in need through their charitable organizations.

In a separate development in St. Petersburg, One Day In July has opened an investment office at 165 Fifth Ave. NE in downtown St. Petersburg. The firm focuses on fiduciary advice, low fees, and long-term results. It offers personalized wealth management and retirement planning services across the Tampa Bay region. Clients work directly with dedicated financial advisors who construct portfolios primarily using low-cost, tax-efficient index funds.

St. Petersburg College is marking its centennial with a new specialty license plate for Florida drivers. The plate features an SPC Titan in blue and gold, with the words “Florida” across the top and “St. Petersburg College” along the bottom. Annual use fees will benefit the St. Petersburg College Foundation. Forty percent of the funds will go to scholarships for students in need, while fifty percent will support student-success initiatives.

The Gulfport city commissioners accepted a check on Oct. 20 for $3,802.61. The amount represents proceeds from the town’s first City Run 5K. The funds will support the Gulfport Police Department’s Operation Santa program. Councilpersons Jennifer Daunch and Nancy Earley, along with community members Kristin Ossola, Kelli Garcia, Keri Nelson, and Julie Armstrong, were present to accept the check.

Two K9 officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department will receive protective gear soon. Chip and Cimi will receive bullet and stab protective vests donated by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Chip’s vest will be embroidered in memory of K9 Nero, who died in the line of duty on Aug. 5, 2019. Cimi’s vest will honor K9 Titan, who died on Nov. 30, 2021. The vests are expected to arrive within ten weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity that provides body armor to law enforcement dogs across the United States. The vests are U.S. made, custom fitted, and certified by the National Institute of Justice. Since its inception, the organization has provided over 6,677 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states.