CHICAGO -- Watching the White Sox win a World Series title for the first time in nearly nine decades did far more than simply bring one of the most euphoric sports celebrations ever witnessed to the streets of Chicago during October 2005.

A new franchise attendance record of 2,957,414, as well as a single-season record of 52 sellouts, was set at U.S. Cellular Field this past season. The South Siders' profile increased on both a local level, through outstanding television ratings, among other intangibles, and on a national level.

But the on-field baseball blessings heaped upon the organization also allowed the White Sox to give back to the community around them at a record amount, surpassing its already thorough and wholehearted charitable dedication of the past.

"Winning the World Series absolutely helps drive not just ticket revenue, but charity revenue as well," said White Sox senior director of community relations Christine O'Reilly, after the organization raised approximately $2.5 million for White Sox Charities this past year. "It energizes and engages the fans. It's really about fan engagement, as much as anything."

The White Sox actually gave their vast fan base the ultimate opportunity for championship engagement by raffling off three authentic World Series rings, as received by the players, coaches and members of the organization. The team sold 43,550 raffle tickets, at $20 apiece, raising $871,000 for White Sox Charities from April 14 through July 31. Marilyn Deming and Michael Silchuck of Chicago and Ernest Huelke of River Forest, Ill., held the winning numbers drawn on Aug. 10, and were presented the rings on the field on Sept. 22.

A World Series trophy tour, allowing fans to pose with the beloved top prize at various stops around the state, also contributed to the charitable coffers. U.S. Cellular sponsored the trophy procession, starting in December, 2005 and extending through August, with 80 percent of the cumulative donations going to White Sox Charities and 20 percent to the United Way as U.S. Cellular's selected recipient.

According to O'Reilly, $1 million of the record $2.5 million raised for White Sox Charities was directly attributable to this pair of championship-related concepts.

"We did great [in 2005], and we were able to almost double what we did last year," said O'Reilly, referring to the increase in charitable monies raised from 2005 to 2006.

Baseball's Giving Spirit 2006 | MLB in the Community

"Any opportunity for fans to get closer to the whole championship thing was a big deal -- be a part of it or own a part of it," added O'Reilly, who also mentioned how the team accepted free-will donations from the fans attending the various World Series trophy stops. "We were also able to create cool new programs for the fans, as the tour and ring raffle, specifically, are two unique fundraising ideas we've never done before."

O'Reilly explained how the increase in ticket sales naturally led to an increase in the daily pot for the Sox Split gameday raffle, not to mention an increase in scoreboard messages and a higher number of bidders for gameday auction items. The White Sox raised an additional $400,000 through annual events such as the Picnic in the Park, Family Field Day and the Field of Greens golf outing, with the desire to mingle with the players or spend a few moments on the field even greater following the title.

Then again, the White Sox didn't need a championship push for their players and staff to reach out to the community. That sort of connection has come to be expected under the leadership of chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

After opening the White Sox Fields in Mt. Greenwood., Ill., -- a youth complex including baseball fields, softball fields and a Miracle Field designed for children with special needs -- on May 16, 2005, the White Sox went back to the site in 2006 and saw the kids in action.

"That was a great opportunity to see our dream playing out," said O'Reilly of the Mt. Greenwood visit.

There was involvement in an initiative with Habitat for Humanity, as the White Sox helped Shirley Baughman build her family's new house. Baughman lost her home in New Orleans during the devastation brought about by Hurricane Katrina.

Jim and Andrea Thome, Paul and Jennifer Konerko and Scott and Lisa Podsednik all helped out at the Armour Square Park work site on a Tuesday morning in May, prior to that particular night's game. The three players seemed a bit smoother with the bat than with the hammer, but their assistance was greatly appreciated.

"Everywhere Jim has played, we really felt that it's important to be a part of the community," said Andrea Thome during the day of the build. "It's just as important as what he does on the field. For us, it's a no-brainer to come to something like this."

"It means a lot to people when you come out and give your time," Jim Thome added. "The White Sox organization deserves credit. They have done a real nice job, not only informing players, but getting involved, too. It's a neat deal."

Baughman's home, the 18th among Major League Baseball's Habitat projects, was designed for a complex called Carter Crossing in Waukegan, Ill. O'Reilly said the White Sox have maintained a dialogue with Habitat in Lake County, so members of the organization can return to help out as a continuation of this project.

May's original build drew so much inter-office support that volunteers had to be turned away.

A current challenge facing O'Reilly and her staff is matching the extraordinary fundraising effort in 2006 during 2007, without a championship behind them. But one step back toward the past should help immeasurably for the future, with the inception of the Legacy Brick Program.

Personalized bricks will be placed in a diamond-shaped plaza, serving as the welcoming point at Gate 4 of U.S. Cellular Field. A monument celebrating the 2005 World Series championship will be featured at the heart of this plaza.

Bricks will come in two sizes and will range in price from $175 to the most expensive at $4,000. The price is determined by the material used, and depending on the size, it tells the fans how many lines of text can be put on the brick.

Interest is already quite high in the brick program, according to O'Reilly, with the unveiling of the plaza set for Opening Day 2008. O'Reilly views these special bricks as a perfect holiday gift for a father, son, wife, or daughter, not to mention a close friend.

The bricks also serve as lasting legacies, of sorts, for a championship some fans waited a lifetime to see. It's a championship that already has given as much to the city off the field as it did on the field.