Rangers, MLB support pediatric healthcare in Arlington
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Hours before the first pitch of the 2023 World Series was thrown, Major League Baseball and the American League champion Rangers hosted a special legacy event highlighting meaningful work happening in the Arlington community.
The legacy project will serve the Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex, a long-time partner of the Rangers Foundation. The clinic supports the Arlington community with emergency aid services to nearly 2,000 people daily, including providing emergency funds, food, medical and dental services, clothing, furniture, counseling and more.
“We partner with so many organizations in this community, but there is no greater partner than that with Mission Arlington,” said Karin Morris, the Rangers' senior vice president, community impact and executive director of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.
Through the MLB Together platform, the Rangers and MLB are supporting the organization’s medical clinic, which includes expansion to seven patient rooms and a triage room.
The funds will be specifically designated towards the clinic’s new pediatric rooms, one of which will be decorated with Rangers marks to honor the team's 2023 Fall Classic appearance. One of their signature services is the medical clinic, where the group sees between 12,000-15,000 patients per year and provides more than $5 million in medical care at no cost to the patients.
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“MLB Together is the embodiment of what we’re actually doing here today,” said April Brown, MLB’s senior vice president, social responsibility. “Major League Baseball together with our clubs, together with the Rangers, and the Rangers Foundation. Making an impact off the field. Our sport on the field is the best sport anyone could ever play. But what’s incredibly powerful is what we do off the field.”
The gathering at Mission Arlington on Friday morning was well-attended and packed with star power, given the number of former Major League players who were there, including former Rangers Shawn Tolleson and David Murphy, as well as Dellin Betances and LaTroy Hawkins, both of whom are members of the Commissioner Ambassador Program.
But the real star of the show was 87-year-old Tillie Burgin, who founded Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex and has dedicated her life to its operation, to this day.
Morris voiced appreciation for the long-term partnership between the Rangers and Mission Arlington, crediting Burgin for the countless lives she’s affected with her generous spirit.
“If there is a fire, if there is a tornado, if there’s someone who might be evicted or someone who lost his way, Miss Tillie is that first person to come alongside them and make sure that they not only find their way, but that they also find their faith and find their grounding formation,” Morris said. “We’re so thankful for what you do. You are truly a legacy, so partnering with you on a legacy project is exactly where we need to be.”
“I don’t have a script,” Burgin said. “It’s only my heart that says thank you.
“We can hardly wait to see [the facility expansion] happen. We know folks are going to get more help. It’s just a matter of people getting physical help, and spiritual. It’s not just the physical. Doctors are here, but folks when they come, they also come for other needs. Lots of good things happen to people when they come here.”