Home Runs for the Homeless

categories: Action, Government, innovation, News, People doing good things

Published October 07, 2009 @ 08:53AM PT

Tonight's first playoff game between the Rockies and Phillies promises to be a good one. The mayors of Denver and Philly have both put money on tonight's faceoff between the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies. But instead of pocketing the $2,000 in winnings, the victorious city will donate the cash to a local homeless shelter.

Ah, a good game indeed.

Although, in the world of baseball, $2,000 isn't much. According to the Denver Post, $2,000 bucks is about a third of what Rockies pitcher Tedd Helton made per toss this season. But I don't think that's the point here.

The real value of this gesture is largely symbolic, using a media-magnet playoff bet between cities into an opportunity to do some good. Who knows, perhaps this good deed will multiply, with players and baseball execs matching the $2,000 gifts to their local shelters -- win or lose. Perhaps this trend will catch on in other cities participating in post-season bets. Hey, a girl can dream.

Either way, with the holiday season and cold weather just around the corner and demand already exceeding supply, Denver and Philadelphia service providers will take all the help they can get.

Image from TheGoodPhight.com

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Author

Shannon has worked in homeless shelters and service organizations in San Francisco, the Triangle region of North Carolina, and currently in the greater Boston area. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.