Milwaukee Union Awards World Series Tickets for Socks

The IBEW Local 494 is rewarding members who contributed to a massive local sock drive for those in need.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Philanthropy

Bold vector editorial illustration showing folded wool socks, a plain paper ticket, and a baseball, symbolizing a charity sock drive for local residents. — The IBEW Local 494 collected 10,000 pairs of socks for local agencies in Milwaukee and Waukesha County through a new charitable raffle program. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Are ticket prices for professional sports games now too expensive for you to consider attending?

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 494 is offering World Series raffle tickets to union members who participated in a local charity sock drive. The initiative successfully collected 10,000 pairs of socks to be distributed across Milwaukee and Waukesha County.

Why it matters

This creative labor union drive incentivizes philanthropy during a high-interest period by addressing basic needs for students and individuals in shelters. It bridges the gap between significant charitable donations and the high market demand for local sporting event tickets.

The union successfully gathered 10,000 socks, including a substantial contribution of 2,700 pairs from just three members. Meanwhile, market prices for the cheapest World Series resale tickets hit $2,800 as of Monday.

The players

IBEW Local 494

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 494 is a Milwaukee-based labor union representing area electricians.

Milwaukee Area Labor Council

The Milwaukee Area Labor Council is an organization that coordinates local union activities and community service initiatives.

Don Oldani

Don Oldani is a representative involved in managing the logistics and processing of the union's raffle ticket program.

The details

Union members earned one raffle entry for every three pairs of socks donated during the drive that ran through October 19. The Milwaukee Area Labor Council will oversee the distribution of these items to 13 different agencies serving residents in Milwaukee and Waukesha County.

Sept. 7 - Oct. 19, 2026: Duration of the 2026 Sock Drive.
Monday, Oct. 19, 2026: Cheapest World Series tickets reached $2,800.
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026: Don Oldani discussed the processing of raffle entries.
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026: The first game of the World Series begins.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026: Scheduled sock sorting and distribution event at the Hawley Road office.

Market Landscape

This effort aligns with the Milwaukee Area Labor Council's community service partnerships, which regularly utilize member networks to address regional resource gaps. By gamifying philanthropy, the union distinguishes its community engagement strategy from more conventional corporate charitable giving models.

While the raffle provides a chance for members to attend the World Series, the primary impact for the broader community is the rapid supply of new footwear to 13 local shelters. Residents and students served by these agencies will receive the donated items following the sorting event on Saturday.

The takeaway

Large-scale community drives can effectively source basic necessities by tapping into the engagement of local organizations. Participants in similar future efforts should track raffle rules early to ensure eligibility for high-demand event tickets.