Community
Since 1991, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation has contributed more than $10 million within our community to make life better for those in need. With the Foundation's financial help, more than 205 promising young people have been given the opportunity to attend college; 22 homes have been built through Habitat for Humanity; and 9 youth baseball parks have been built, allowing hundreds of youngsters to play baseball and learn life lessons. At the Texas Rangers, we love giving back.
The Foundation is funded through the generosity of the Rangers players, corporate partners, and individual donors. Additional funding comes from Texas Rangers' special events. To receive more information about the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, please call (817) 436-5933.
Texas Rangers Players - Leaders in Our Community
During 2009, the following players have contributed a record amount to the Foundation. The Foundation thanks these players for their contributions:
As important as these generous financial contributions, the entire Rangers roster donates their time, provides the Foundation with autographed items, and additional monetary contributions to help out in our community.
To join the efforts of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, become a member of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Family. Click below for information on how to donate to the Foundation and become a member.
The Foundation places an emphasis on supporting four areas:
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and Rangers players are committed to giving children in the Dallas/ Fort Worth community the opportunity to play baseball. This year, the Foundation and the players have helped more than 1,700 youngsters to play ball.
Under the umbrella of Major League Baseball's RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) and Jr. RBI programs, the Foundation, along with Rangers players Michael Young and Marlon Byrd and national program sponsor KPMG, partnered with the City of Dallas and the DFW Youth Sports Association to help nearly 1,200 children play baseball. RBI and Jr. RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) are MLB programs designed to increase participation and interest in baseball, encourage academic participation and achievement, promote greater inclusion of minorities into the mainstream of the game, and teach the value of teamwork. Through the support of the Foundation and Rangers players, these children received gloves, uniforms, bats, and cleats. In addition, the children participated in numerous camps and clinics at Rangers Ballpark to learn more about the game of baseball.
The RBI and Jr. RBI leagues were also the beneficiary of the Texas Rangers and Baseball Players Trust Equipment, sponsored by Academy Sports + Outdoors, FOX Sports Southwest, and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. Marlon served as the spokesperson for the drive and led the effort to collect significant amounts of equipment from his teammates.
In Arlington, Kevin Millwood teamed up with the Foundation to build the Kevin Millwood Texas Rangers Ballpark for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington. Together, they donated nearly $102,000 to support construction of the ballpark located just minutes south of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The ballpark, part of the larger National Semiconductor Sports Complex, opened May 30 and will host Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington events throughout the year. About 200 children participated in the RBI and Rookie (Jr. RBI) League in Arlington due to the Rangers support this summer.
In 2005, the Texas Rangers entered into a long-term partnership with the Miracle League on a new Texas Rangers Miracle League Field in Arlington through financial support from the Foundation and former Rangers pitcher Chan Ho Park. The Miracle League's mission is to provide opportunities for all children to play baseball regardless of their abilities. In addition, the participants are welcomed each year at Rangers Ballpark for a special Miracle League Night. This year's event was held on September 1 when nearly 600 Miracle League participants and family members came out to Rangers Ballpark. Rangers alumni, Rangers Captain, and Rangers executives visit the Miracle League games each year.
Each year, every MLB team provides a scholarship of up to $7,500 to a minority high school student who shows leadership potential and demonstrates financial need to attend an accredited four-year college or university.
All transcripts, ACT and SAT scores, and a letter of recommendation including your social security number are to be mailed to:
Jackie Robinson Foundation
ATTN: Scholarship Application
75 Varick Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10013
*The Jackie Robinson Foundation sets scholarship guidelines.
In continued support of the higher education dreams of area students, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation awards scholarships to employees and the children of employees of the Texas Rangers and Sportservice. In 2009, eight promising young students were given Johnny Oates Scholarships. Since its inception in 1992, more than 215 scholarships have been given.
In 2005, Cindy Kuster, daughter of Mark and Alice Holtz, established the Hello Win Column Fund in memory of her parents to support the American Cancer Society as well as local Dallas/Fort Worth area cancer programs. Cindy and Jeff Kuster host approximately 50 families who are battling this disease at Rangers Ballpark each season. Each year, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation provides four $2,000 journalism scholarships to seniors studying journalism at TCU and UTA in Mark Holtz's honor.
Created upon Nolan Ryan's retirement from Major League Baseball in 1993, one female and one male graduating senior from Alvin High School, the alma mater of Nolan and Ruth Ryan, are awarded Nolan Ryan Scholarships. These scholarships are based on academics, school and community activities, and financial needs, and require that the recipient have participated in a high school sport for four years. Thirty scholarships have been granted to date.
For more information, visit nolanryanfoundation.org or call 281-388-1134.
*Guidelines are set by the Nolan Ryan Foundation.
The Foundation awards six Richard Greene Scholarships each year to students in the Arlington Independent School District. The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation has pledged $1 million over 20 years to fund these scholarships in honor of former Arlington Mayor Richard Greene, who served when the ballpark was being planned and opened.
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and Volunteers of America Texas, with support from Chesapeake Energy, established a mentorship program in 2009 to help ten aspiring young students from Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth Independent School District. Each student was matched with a mentor to guide them throughout the school year. Mentors and the students from Polytechnic High School meet at Rangers Ballpark each month during the school year for special sessions. Topics for these sessions include interviewing and applying for jobs, financial literacy, the importance of community service, etiquette, goal setting, healthy living, and more. The students were selected by school counselors at Polytechnic High School. In addition to the monthly events, the mentors and students attend Rangers games and meet an additional two to three times per month.
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, Rangers infielder Chris Davis, and Medical Center of Arlington have joined forces to combat childhood obesity. Teaming with the Arlington Independent School District, the MCA Fitness All-Stars program provides students, parents and teachers with additional tools for children and families to maintain healthy and active lifestyles. The program, used in fifth-grade classrooms at all 53 of the district's elementary schools, includes a DVD, handouts, and in-school presentations from Rangers infielder Chris Davis, official mascot Rangers Captain, health advisors from MCA, and members of the Arlington Fire Department to get kids excited about making healthy life choices ranging from what they choose to eat to how they spend their free time.
To provide motivation for the students to improve their fitness efforts, each school selects a monthly MCA Fitness All-Star. Recognized students receive a prize pack, and their school is entered into a drawing for a school presentation from the Rangers and MCA. The Foundation and MCA provide teachers with handouts to motivate students' families to make healthy decisions at home. Additional videos and teaching tools are available online at texasrangers.com/fitness.
Texas Rangers players, front office staff, broadcasters, and Rangers Captain visited Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth during the holidays as part of their annual holiday hospital visits. The youngsters were served punch and Texas Rangers cookies and received Rangers goody bags as well as autographs from all Rangers participants.
For more than ten years, the Foundation has hosted children in one of the most unique summer camps in the area. In 2009, nearly 150 children from Fort Worth's Lena Pope Home spent the month of June touring Rangers Ballpark, horseback riding, learning to fish, exploring native Texas habitats at the Dallas Audubon Center, and being a guest sportscaster at FOX Sports Southwest.
Through support from Teammates for Kids and Rangers broadcast partner FOX Sports Southwest, the children from Lena Pope Home created lifelong memories.
Southwest Airlines and the Foundation teamed up to provide a once-in-a-lifetime trip for 22 participants from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas. The group boarded a plane to Houston on July 29 for a day trip to remember. The participants, Bigs and Littles, selected through a region-wide essay contest, enjoyed a VIP tour of the Houston Space Center, a visit to Sting Ray Reef at the Kemah Boardwalk, carnival rides on the Boardwalk, lunch and dinner at some of the Boardwalk's most popular stops, and the highlight of the day - getting soaked on the Boardwalk Beast. For many of the Littles, this was the first time they flew on an airplane and the first time they saw the ocean. The group reunited at the Rangers game on August 19 when the Rangers faced the Twins and were featured in the FOX Sports Southwest Community Corner. The trip and entertainment were provided by Southwest Airlines, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, and through a generous donation by Nolan and Ruth Ryan.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2009, Rangers Bench Coach Jackie Moore and his wife, Jo Ann, along with Hawaiian Falls and the Foundation, hosted nearly 100 guests from Snowball Express at the Mansfield Hawaiian Falls location for a "Snowflake Event."
Snowball Express is an organization that provides hope and opportunities to create new memories for the children of military fallen heroes who have died while on active duty since September 11, 2001. The families were treated to a day at the waterpark, including lunch, and attended the final Rangers game of the season on Sunday, September 27, when the Rangers faced the Tampa Bay Rays.
In 2009, the Texas Rangers participated in the Reliant Energy Community Service Day at the Oak Cliff Boys & Girls Club in Dallas. Rangers pitchers Frank Francisco, Matt Harrison, Doug Mathis, and Dustin Nippert took part in the event, which included making energy efficient improvements to the Oak Cliff Boys & Girls Club building as well as conducting a baseball clinic for the youngsters at the club. The event was part of the Reliant Energy Summer Efficiency Project, funded through the Reliant Energy Power Blast Program, whereby Reliant donates $100 to Rebuilding Together Greater Dallas for every Rangers home run hit at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. From its inception through 2008, this program has resulted in over $73,000 being donated to Rebuilding Together Greater Dallas.
This season, the Foundation and FOX Sports Southwest partnered to take nearly 70 different youth organizations to the ballgame. Most home games, a charitable organization received tickets in the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation FOX Sports Southwest Community Corner in Section 212 on the Lexus Club Level. Jim Knox, roving reporter for FOX Sports Southwest, visited each organization during the second inning of most home Rangers television broadcasts to give the charities a chance to share the news of their good work with Rangers fans across Texas.
For the 14th consecutive year, the Rangers honored teachers as part of Teacher Appreciation Night. Area District and Regional Teachers of the Year were recognized with a special pre-game presentation on September 19. Teachers received monetary gifts from the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation to assist them as they provide supplies and teaching tools for their classrooms.
For the 13th year in a row, the Rangers honored area firefighters, police officers, and deputy sheriffs for their ongoing contributions to the community. The honorees received special recognition prior to the game on September 11 in appreciation of their public service and heroism.
The Texas Rangers Speakers Bureau provides speakers for a variety of organizations, including schools, civic clubs and chambers of commerce. Players, coaches, former players, club officials and team announcers make more than 300 appearances per month in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and North Central Texas.
Appearance requests should be mailed to the following address and made in writing to the Rangers on the requesting organization's letterhead at least six weeks in advance of the event.
Texas Rangers Baseball Club
c/o Foundation Speaking Request
1000 Ballpark Way, Ste. 400
Arlington, TX 76011
Sportservice, the concessionaire at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, has developed an extensive community outreach program to assist charitable groups. Each year, charitable groups that work at a concession stand receive a percentage of the net receipts. Please call Sportservice at (817) 795-8838 for more information.
The Texas Rangers, along with MLB and the TEAM (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) Coalition implement a designated drivers program to encourage fans to enjoy Rangers games responsibly.
The Texas Rangers have established a donation program to assist with the fundraising efforts of non-profit organizations. Donations have included game tickets, souvenirs and autographed items. Donations may be used in auctions or raffles, or as incentives for participation in special programs. Donation requests must be made in writing to the address below on the non-profit organization's letterhead at least six weeks in advance of the event. For more information, please call the Rangers at (817) 273-5207.
Texas Rangers Baseball Club
c/o Donation Request
1000 Ballpark Way, Ste. 400
Arlington, TX 76011
Throughout the year, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation raises funds through special events, in-game auctions, corporate donations, and the newly-created Foundation membership program. It is with the generosity of participants that the Foundation is able to continue to make a positive difference within our community.
On January 23, 2009, nearly 700 fans celebrated the accomplishments of the 2008 season including Rangers Player of the Year Josh Hamilton and MLB's Marvin Miller Man of the Year Michael Young (as selected by his MLB peers), at Eddie Deen's Ranch in Dallas. Fans enjoyed a very special ventriloquist presentation from former Miss Texas Gloria Barron and the unveiling of the new 2009 Texas Rangers jerseys by ambassadors from Wipe Out Kids Cancer. A surprise guest, Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Vernon Wells, surprised his best friend Michael Young to present the Marvin Miller Award. The event is held each year to recognize the award winners for the previous season as selected by the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
The next Dr Pepper Texas Rangers Mid-Winter Awards Banquet will be held on January 29, 2010, at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel.
In 2009, the Foundation brought back the popular Welcome Home Luncheon, presented by United Service Association for Health Care Foundation. Nearly 600 fans welcomed the 2009 Texas Rangers home on April 8 at the Arlington Convention Center. Eric Nadel, longtime Rangers broadcaster, interviewed Rangers All-Stars Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton along with two of the team's younger starters, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Elvis Andrus.
The next Welcome Home Luncheon will take place on April 2, 2010, at the Arlington Convention Center.
The seventh annual Park Place Dealerships Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular was held on May 17, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Featuring a Guys and Dolls theme, the event was hosted by the family of team owner Thomas O. Hicks, Michael Young and Cristina Barbosa-Young, Josh and Dana Lewin, and Ken and Lisa Schnitzer.
This year's event featured the Infielders and Outfielders facing off in their annual Fielders Feud battle, and the Youngs, Kinslers, Byrds, and Saltalmacchias met in a Battle of the Sexes. The entertainment highlight of the evening was the annual rookie song. This year featured Chris Davis, Matt Harrison, Taylor Teagarden, Derek Holland, and Elvis Andrus performing the rendition of Afternoon Delight seen in the movie Anchorman. The evening's live and silent auction offerings included lunch with Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, a trip to Hall of Famer Tom Seaver's Napa Valley winery, and a baseball clinic for children hosted by Rangers coaches Mike Maddux and Rudy Jaramillo along with Rangers Hall of Fame catcher Jim Sundberg. The event was conceived by Rangers television broadcaster Josh Lewin and raised nearly $350,000. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $1.2 million for the Foundation thanks to signature sponsors Park Place Dealerships, Southwest Airlines, Ozarka, Bachendorf's, Medical Center of Arlington, Reliant Energy, XO Communications, AT&T, Austin Bridge & Road, and PSAV Presentation Services.
The 2010 event is scheduled for Sunday, May 23.
On July 30, nearly 140 golfers joined Rangers alumni including Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Ferguson Jenkins and Rangers Hall of Famer Jim Sundberg for a day on the links at Texas Star Golf Course in Euless. The Ozarka Texas Rangers Alumni Legacy Golf Classic, part of Texas Rangers Alumni Legacy Weekend, raised over $100,000 for the Foundation.
The 2009 Dr Pepper Alumni Legacy Luncheon was held on July 31 and honored 2009 Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Toby Harrah and Ruben Sierra. The new inductees were joined by Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Ferguson Jenkins and Rangers Hall of Famer Jim Sundberg in a conversation hosted by Eric Nadel. FOX Sports Southwest's John Rhadigan served as the emcee at the event that welcomed nearly 40 other Rangers alumni, and 400 fans to the Sheraton Arlington.
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation provided fans with the opportunity to bid on collectible items during every home game on the main concourse near the Home Plate Gate. Items included autographed baseballs, photographs, baseball bats, and even numbers from the manual out-of-town scoreboard that was replaced prior to the 2009 season. The game auctions raised more than $145,000 in 2009 to help fund the Foundation's programs and charitable contributions.
In 2009, for the first time, fans had the opportunity to become members of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation family and help area children in need. For just $25, fans can purchase a baseball uniform for one child or pay for one child to participate in a day of Summer Academy. In turn, fans receive special membership benefits, including a special membership card. Thanks to the following individuals, who are charter members of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Family.
