The leader of Maricopa County, Arizona has paid off a bet he made with Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare during the 2023 World Series. O'Hare and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Clint Hickman bet the person representing the losing team's home county would make a donation to the food bank in the winning team's county.
"Quite often, you see politicians or public servants make a bet wearing a hat, wearing a jersey, buying a meal, but it doesn't really comport to a community," Hickman says. "Tim is big on his community; I'm big on mine."
Friday, Hickman delivered 51,840 eggs to the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
"I think what's more important is we're raising awareness for the Tarrant Area Food Bank and families in need," says Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare. "Hopefully, this will raise awareness of this organization's needs not just in the Christmas season but throughout the year."
The Tarrant Area Food Bank serves 13 counties. Chief Executive Officer Julie Butner says at least 500,000 people in its coverage area face hunger.
"It's nice to get this kind of attention in the middle of the holidays. It's unexpected," she says. "It just brings the issue of hunger and what our community members are facing to the forefront."
Butner says the donation will help keep attention on a growing need in North Texas.
"The goodwill of two baseball teams making a decision to support their local food bank is really exciting," she says.
Maricopa County's Hickman says he met O'Hare during the World Series, and the two decided to make the bet after seeing the "graciousness of how the fans treated each other."
"I was there for the World Series when Arizona beat the New York Yankees. You had a different type of East Coast attitude," he says. "I had friends who came to Texas and watched the Diamondbacks play here. They said there was just not that antagonism."
"I don't know if I've ever had a better experience with opposing fans than I did in Arizona," O'Hare says. "They were incredibly gracious at a time when there was great disappointment."
The two say they are already hoping for a rematch in October 2024.
"Hopefully, we'll back here next year doing the exact same thing with another Rangers World Series win," O'Hare says.
"You come back stronger. I'm wearing the Diamondbacks jersey. We'll be in the World Series with you guys again next year, and the result will be different," Hickman says.
Regardless, the Tarrant Area Food Bank's Butner says the eggs will only last a few weeks, so the need will continue. During the visit, she took O'Hare and Hickman on a tour of their facility to show how they can store fresh and frozen food so people can receive nutritious meals.
"They're focusing on the win, but they're also focusing on the greater need of the community," she says. "They're looking beyond the game, and they're thinking about the fans and community who support the game."
More information about the Tarrant Area Food Bank can be found at tafb.org.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube