SOUTH BEND – The South Bend Cubs, a Class-A minor league affiliate of the World Champion Chicago Cubs, announced the contribution of $5,000 to Minor League Baseball’s efforts at raising money for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts today. The donation is made in response to a $10,000 matching challenge issued to all 160 minor league teams across the country by Minor League Baseball.

To assist Minor League Baseball, the Midwest League office sent out a $5,000 matching challenge to the 16 teams in Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. “By virtue of the nearly instant donation that the South Bend Cubs team made, the $10,000 match from Minor League Baseball, which brings the total to $20,000, was made within a few short minutes,” said Richard A. Nussbaum II, President of the Midwest League. “Now, South Bend and our other 15 teams in the Midwest League are doing more.”

The South Bend Cubs are asking local fans to raise more money during the final two games of the regular season to help men, women and children in Texas and Louisiana.  The last two games are played at Four Winds Field in South Bend tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow night (Friday).

“What’s happening in Texas and Louisiana is heartbreaking,” commented Andrew T. Berlin, Owner of the South Bend Cubs. “We matched the League’s request immediately as a team because it’s the right thing to do. And the fans in this region who are so good to us, so giving in general, will help us donate even more during tonight and tomorrow night’s game. They’re simply the best people in the world—a real cross section of everything that’s great about America. And this is what we, as a team, can do to help them, help our brothers and sisters in Texas and Louisiana.”

“The fans have been so good to us as a team,” added Joe Hart, President of the South Bend Cubs. “Donating to the relief efforts is something we’re proud to do. It’s a reflection of our community’s values. We know they will contribute. So, these last two games have taken on more importance than ever.”

“We’re very grateful to Andrew Berlin and Joe Hart for their contribution and for the extra effort tonight and tomorrow night,” added Nussbaum. “In my estimation, the Midwest League has the best baseball fans and the best team owners in all of baseball. Over the past two years, this league has been right at the top of all 160 minor league teams in terms of charitable donations. For the Harvey relief effort, all of our teams are pitching in. Together, we’ll raise a lot of money to help the victims of this terrible event.”