Mission Arlington to Expand Free Community Medical Clinic Thanks to World Series Legacy Gift

By Susan Schrock, Office of Communications

Posted on October 27, 2023, October 27, 2023

The 2023 World Series has turned out to be a grand slam for Mission Arlington Mission Metroplex. On Friday, just hours before fans filled Globe Life Field in Arlington for Game 1, the Texas Rangers and Major League Baseball announced a legacy gift to help the nonprofit expand its medical clinic and provide even more free medical care to people in need.

Mission Arlington Mission Metroplex has been a long-time partner of the Texas Rangers Foundation. The nonprofit’s medical clinic, which sees 12,000-15,000 patients per year and provides more than $5 million in medical care at no cost to the patients, was selected as a World Series Legacy project. Through the MLB Together platform (www.MLBTogether.com), the Rangers and MLB will help Mission Arlington add seven new patient rooms and a triage room to the clinic. 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.

“I can’t think of a better location in the City of Arlington than right here at Mission Arlington. For 37 years, Mission Arlington has held their doors open 364 days of the year. They never turn anyone away. They always make sure people have food to eat and they are taken care of with their mental and their physical health,” said Ray Casas, director of community impact for the Texas Rangers. “This is a special organization that serves thousands of our friends and our neighbors here in the community.”

The Mission Arlington Mission Metroplex, located at 210 W. South St. in Downtown, provides emergency aid services to nearly 2,000 people daily, including emergency funds, food, medical and dental services, clothing, furniture, counseling and more. The nonprofit was founded by and continues to be led by 87-year-old Tillie Burgin.

“This is somebody who has truly meant so much to our community. When you are in her presence, you are around God,” Casas said about Burgin. “She is always praying for you, she is praying for anybody that she meets, and it is really special.”

 Burgin, dressed in her hometown team’s colors, called the World Series legacy project a blessing that would help improve thousands and thousands of lives.

 “The medical clinic line starts at three in the morning. It’s not unusual at all,” she said. “With this expansion, we will have more room. We are so grateful for it.”

The Texas Rangers Foundation has invested more than $70 million back into the community since 1991, with funding going toward initiatives such as the Richard Greene Scholars program, Miracle League at Randol Mill Park and the Arlington ISD’s Pre-K Program, said Karin Morris, the foundation’s senior vice president for community impact and ED.

“We partner with so many organizations in the community, but there is no greater partner of ours than Mission Arlington. If you’ve had an opportunity to meet Miss Tillie, you know her grace, her faith, her heart and her commitment to this community. We are so thankful of what you do, and you are truly a legacy,” Morris said about why Mission Arlington was selected as a legacy project. “What we are doing here will impact young people and families for generations to come.”