Team Patriots rallied for a successful Super Bowl Challenge--a charitable contest launched a week and a half ago by the bishops of the dioceses of Massachusetts and Olympia to see which diocese could raise the most money for Episcopal Relief and Development by gametime on Sunday.
Final tallies show Team Patriots raising $25,500 and Team Seahawks raising $12,900, with the winner
being Episcopal Relief and Development and its disaster relief, public health and economic development ministries around the world.
"Sunday was a great day, not just for Patriots fans but for all those whose lives will be touched by the ministries of compassion extended by Episcopal Relief and Development," the Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, Bishop of Massachusetts, wrote in a Feb. 2 thank-you message [full text below].
"Our Patriots team reached its astonishing total thanks to church school collections; loose offering designations; loyal Patriots fans living in exile around the country; friendly support from our neighboring New England dioceses; and all your individual contributions large and small," Gates wrote.
"The outcome of the football game was breath-taking; the outcome of the ERD challenge was life-giving!"
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Dear Friends,
Wow! Sunday was a great day, not just for Patriots fans but for all those whose lives will be touched by the ministries of compassion extended by Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD).
Thanks to you, the Super Bowl Challenge between the dioceses of Olympia and Massachusetts raised $40,000 for Episcopal Relief and Development! Patriots fans donated some $26,000. Seahawks partisans offered some $13,000. Our original combined goal was $15,000--far exceeded by your generosity. Our Patriots team reached its astonishing total thanks to church school collections; loose offering designations; loyal Patriots fans living in exile around the country; friendly support from our neighboring New England dioceses; and all your individual contributions large and small.
According to the original challenge, the bishop of the diocese whose team lost the football game will wear sports gear from the victorious team. I thank you for sparing me this indignity! Most of all, I thank you for your generosity. The outcome of the football game was breath-taking; the outcome of the ERD challenge was life-giving!
Grateful blessings,
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates