Bill Gant never thought he’d be in the stands during the World Series.
But Sunday night, the dream of attending one of the biggest Phillies games since 1993 came true. Gant, the winner of a raffle for Game 4 tickets held by Richie’s Deli and Pizza, was able to see the Phillies host the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia.
“I’ve always been a big Philadelphia sports fan,” said Gant, a senior risk management and insurance major. “And I figured, the World Series is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the raffle benefited a good cause.”
In coordination with Gamma Iota Sigma, a professional fraternity for risk management, insurance and actuarial science majors, Richie, the deli’s owner, sold $5 raffle tickets for four days at his stand in the Anderson food pad.
“[To help kids] was my whole goal,” Richie said. “It was great that Gamma could help me donate the money because I’m so busy.”
The proceeds went to the Children’s Alopecia Project, a charity to which Gamma Iota Sigma has been donating all year.
Amanda Dolan, the senior risk management major who helped Richie organize the raffle, said the idea to donate to the Children’s Alopecia Project came from a conversation she had with Richie two weeks prior to the raffle.
“I love people. It doesn’t matter who it is,” Richie said. “I’ll do whatever I can for people.”
The drawing took place on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in front of Richie’s Deli and Pizza.
Some students recognized the importance of supporting a good cause whether or not they are baseball fans.
“I bought a raffle ticket from Richie’s, not because I wanted to go to the Phillies game, but because of the cause they were supporting,” said Colleen Reinert, a junior university studies major.
Ester Roche Curet bought a ticket, and while she was excited about the possibility of going to a World Series game for $5, she said she was more interested in donating the money.
“It’s a win-win because the money goes to charity,” said Curet, a junior education major.
The game was Sunday evening, where the Phillies beat the Rays in thrilling fashion, hitting four home runs and winning 10-2.
“It was electric,” Gant said. “The whole game.”
In addition to game tickets, the raffle included a free Richie’s T-shirt, a free Phillies World Series T-shirt and hat and dinner supplied by Richie’s.
Altogether, the raffle raised more than $1,000 for the charity.
“Thanks goes to Richie. This was his brainchild,” Gant said. “I was lucky enough to win, but making $1,100 for charity in four days is bigger than that.”
Morgan Zalot and Kevin Brosky can be reached at info@temple-news.com.
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