For Every Act of Kindness Shared with Hashtag #giveamazing Lexus will donate $10 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America
The holiday season is a time of increased giving across North Texas and Park Place Dealerships is leading the way for members, clients and the community to give back to help those who may need it. Organizations Park Place will be supporting during this season include Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Club of America, Community Partners of Dallas, Arlington ISD, and Toys for Tots.
“We care about our community and are glad to provide support to those in need,” said Dave Evans, chief marketing officer for Park Place Dealerships. “There are many families who struggle throughout the year and our members continually look for opportunities to help others. During this holiday season, we are partnering with various charities and we have made it easy for the community to join these efforts.”
Give Back with Park Place
Park Place Lexus stores in Grapevine and Plano are participating in the Lexus Give Amazing program, which kicks off November 22. Lexus is simply asking people to share acts of kindness on social media with the hashtag #giveamazing. For each submission using the hashtag, Lexus will donate $10 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America up to a total donation of $100,000.
Park Place Motorcars Dallas and Park Place Porsche Dallas are participating in the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Clients and members can pick an angel off the tree at the Lemmon Avenue dealerships. The angel tags are printed with a child’s name, age and gift ideas from their wish list. Participants purchase gifts and return them to the dealerships by the deadline on the tag. Park Place members will deliver the gifts to one of the 11 Salvation Army Distribution centers for delivery to a family.
Park Place Motorcars Arlington is collecting new and gently used coats, jackets and shoes for students in Arlington ISD, where approximately 64,000 students (70% of students) are identified as “low socio-economic.”
Park Place Dealerships’ corporate office, located in Las Colinas, also will be collecting toys for distribution for the Community Partners of Dallas. Unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the front desk at 350 Phelps Drive in Irving.
Porsche Grapevine is collecting non-perishable food throughout November to donate to a local food bank and will be collecting Toys for Tots thru December 9th. Park Place Motorcars Grapevine is donating food for GRACE for Thanksgiving dinner and participating in Toys for Tots thru Dec. 13.
All of these efforts are part of the Park Place Cares program, which encourages Park Place’s 2,100 members to volunteer their time and resources to serve the community in which they live and work. The community can support any of these initiatives by donating toys, food, or sharing their act of kindness on social media with the hashtag#giveamazing.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
It’s back! Lexus is back with their big red bows, a showroom staple for the holiday season, and their 19th year of the December to Remember campaign. But- there’s a twist this year and we have to admit, we are fond of their new direction..”The Excitement of Giving.”
Earlier this month Lexus debuted three commercials, all showing how the gift of an award-winning Lexus offers amazing experiences throughout the entire year, and the excitement that comes from gifting these exceptional vehicles to loved ones.
“This time of year is full of joy, magic and cherished family traditions that last well beyond the gift-giving season,” said Cooper Ericksen, Lexus vice president of marketing. “We wanted to capture this idea that a ‘December to Remember’ with Lexus has the potential to create unforgettable moments that last all year round.”
This year, it’s truly all about the experience and the joyful moments created from one decision and a red bow. The three spots you’ll see are called “Memories” “Celebrations” and “Joy” and they all tell a different story from varying perspectives including Valentine’s Day, Halloween a summer quinceanera, Easter, and moving a new student into their college dorm room to name a few. “Joy” is previewed below.
#GiveAmazing- Extending December to Remember with the Community in Mind
Now, we shift from the joyful moments created by their line-up and to the moments their dealer teams create to give back to their communities. Starting on November 22, Lexus will share stories of giving back and issue a challenge to their dealer network and clientele.
Use the #GiveAmazing on social media with your own act of kindness this season, and Lexus will donate $10 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America- up to $100,000.
So now it’s up to us! Park Place Lexus Plano and Park Place Lexus Grapevine will continue their community support throughout the end of the year by encouraging their members to go the extra mile to give back.
Specifically, Lexus Plano will be raising funds for the Children’s Advocacy Center during their Thanksgiving Celebration with members, and are “Adopting Angels” and will send a team to shop for at least 16 children this holiday season. Park Place Lexus Grapevine is collection Toys for Tots through mid-December. Clients are encouraged to also drop toys for donation to the dealership.
If you are interested in giving back with us this holiday season, be sure to snap a photo or video of your toy delivery, community event, or philanthropy (no act is too small!), share to social media with #GiveAmazing and #ParkPlaceCares and your act of kindness will go even further thanks to Lexus!
Cue your favorite superhero ballad or theme song- because that’s what the Park Place Dealerships team has been playing on repeat for the past month.
It’s no secret that Park Place Dealerships is committed to the community. In 2019 alone, we have supported over 300 organizations and causes through the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. But, Cape Day was a ‘first’ for us and it’s certainly one we aren’t going to quickly forget. Now that it’s over, we humbly and fondly reflect on the super-success of this year’s Cape Day Challenge and Boardwalk Bash- benefitting the patients at Children’s Health.
All Heroes Should Wear Capes
As one of eight companies that competed in a friendly battle for the best design, Park Place created a cape that allows young patients to make a powerful and personal statement by finishing the heroic statement, “I am…” with their own words. Our design received the most votes during the Phone Bank on WFAA Channel 8, and was printed on this year’s cape and delivered to the patients at Children’s Health.
What made this extra special were the stories and support the Park Place family shared. Some have a personal connection with the organization, while others deeply support medical research and children’s advocacy on their own as well. So naturally, members were eager to sport their capes.
For one of the first times in recent years, all Park Place Dealerships participated by taking a photo with their superpower, donating themselves and encouraging donations, and spreading the message on social media with #CapeDayNtx.
“This was a fun and creative opportunity to work with Children’s Health,” said Dave Evans, Chief Marketing Officer of Park Place Dealerships. “Everyone at Park Place is excited to see the kids proudly wearing our design on their capes. We hope our small part in this event brings a lot of joy to kids who have an illness or injury.”
The initiative ended with a Boardwalk Bash in Granite Park in Frisco, Texas. And using her own super-strength, Anam Ali, Experiential Marketing Manager managed to feature a stunning Lexus LC (famously used in the Black Panther blockbuster) and the Men In Black Lexus RC-F specification at the event.
When it comes to community initiatives, and why supporting organizations like Children’s Health and Cape Day is integral to our mission, Anam says it best:
“The Children’s Health Cape Creation Challenge is a community effort supported by our entire dealer group,” says Anam Ali, Experiential Marketing Manager for Park Place Dealerships. “While we’re happy to win the design award, the best part of the event is seeing the smiles of so many wonderful, happy children.”
Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, and Karma. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
El Salvador’s Balmore Salmeron Dreamed of a Brighter Future and Found it at Park Place.
Newest “My Place” video spotlights promote-from-within culture at Park Place Dealerships
Soft spoken, thoughtfully articulate and almost always smiling, Balmore Salmeron dismisses praise about his life’s achievements with uncharacteristic modesty.
“I’m not special,” he says. “I just did what I needed to do.”
But the facts are undeniable: When he came to this country from his native El Salvador in 2001, he had no official education degree, just some university computer science training. While he could read and write a little English, his speaking skills – and thus better job opportunities – were slim.
He was, however, eager to prove himself. And Park Place was just as eager to give the young man a leg up in his adopted country.
“My mother-in-law had a friend in the detailing department at Park Place Lexus Grapevine, so I was referred and hired,” he says. “I worked on cars during the day and on my communications skills at night.”
Three years later, his managers rewarded Balmore’s determination with a promotion to the dealership’s service drive, where a quick understanding of client needs along with a cheerful and professional demeanor are must-haves.
By this time, he was also taking accounting courses, since he’d always felt comfortable with the language of numbers and figures. And knowing that Park Place likes to promote from within, he kept his eye on potential internal opportunities.
“To be better than yesterday – that’s something we should always strive for,” he says.
Nearly two years later, he found what looked like a fit when an internal financial analyst position opened up. At each step of the interview process – and there were a lot of steps – he impressed managers with his gumption and positive attitude. But he worried that he didn’t have the necessary skills.
He didn’t need to.
“We hire for attitude and determination,” declares his manager, Park Place Controller David Orenstein. “If a great candidate has that, like Balmore, then we can provide all the training they need.”
“The Park Place philosophy is about helping members improve and move up,” confirms Balmore.
Since then, he’s been instrumental in refining the company’s accounting processes to be faster and more accurate – always a good thing when it comes to numbers.
He became a U.S. citizen in 2010, completed his accounting degree at Richland College in 2014 and embodies the idea that, with hearty backing from your organization, you can achieve your dreams.
So all in all, it’s pretty clear why Balmore calls Park Place “My Place.”
“America is a dream of freedom, built around the idea that one person can make a difference,” he says. “For me, Park Place is my place because I’m a part of something great and they’ve helped me to achieve my dreams.”
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
Park Place Dealerships had the winning design for Children’s Health Cape Day which honors the real superheroes who fight courageously against illness and injury every day.
As one of eight companies that competed in a friendly battle for the best design, Park Place created a cape that allows young patients to make a powerful and personal statement by finishing the heroic statement, “I am…” with their own words. Park Place’s design will be printed on this year’s cape, which will be delivered to patients at Children’s Health this week.
“This was a fun and creative opportunity to work with Children’s Health,” said Dave Evans, Chief Marketing Officer of Park Place Dealerships. “Everyone at Park Place is excited to see the kids proudly wearing our design on their capes. We hope our small part in this event brings a lot of joy to kids who have an illness or injury.”
Kids at Children’s Health will sport their capes Thursday, Nov. 7 to raise awareness for all the patients fighting for a better tomorrow. Cape Day’s Bash on the Boardwalk also will be held Friday, November 8th from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at The Boardwalk at Granite Park in Plano to celebrate Children’s Health patient superheroes.
Donate at Cape!
For a $20 donation to Children’s Health, anyone can purchase a cape for themselves or a patient. The donation also qualifies the buyer to be a member of the Red Balloon League, a group of people helping superheroes in the hospital. Proceeds from Cape Day will help fund patient and support services, research, and new equipment. To purchase a cape, visit Give.Childrens.com.
Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, and Karma. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
Nikole and Mike Rose know firsthand how culture in the workplace and in the home is important for success.
“We are married and we work together,” says Nikole Rose. “We have been married nine years and we take life one day at a time.”
In addition to creating a happy marriage, the Rose’s have been building a successful business, Mojo Media Labs.
“Not every business puts people first,” stated Mike. “I grew up in a business where my dad took care of people running a small, Italian deli. That always stuck in my head.”
Relationshipsare important to the Rose’s and in every aspect of their lives, they choose to treat everyone with respect, and they expect the same from others.
“We made a decision to focus on culture and we put that in front of everything else,” says Nikole about Mojo Media Labs. “We think it’s a pretty simple equation, that happy people equals happy clients.”
When choosing an automotive partner to provide their family with everything they need, the Rose family picked Park Place Dealerships.
“We want to support businesses that think the same way,” commented Mike. “We know that Park Place will take care of us and the people we work with which is important as well.”
Over the past 10 years, the Rose’s have purchased nine vehicles from Park Place. Nikole articulates that she can feel Park Place members have a passion for serving clients in a real, genuine way and that they are happy in their careers.
“I have been to three different dealerships and am always treated with incredible respect. I love the relationship with Park Place,” proclaims Nikole.
Mike conveys he has always admired the friendly relationship with Park Place and says, “Park Place is My Place because of the people.” Nikole adamantly agrees.
The Roses aRe sharing their story in a new “My Place” campaign about Park Place Dealerships.
“Nikole and Mike Rose exemplify ‘My Place,” explains Dave Evans, Park Place Dealerships Chief Marketing Officer. “They have a unique perspective about the culture they are creating and likewise, they have the same expectations of companies with which they do business. We are sharing the Rose’s unique story through the “My Place” campaign.”
To see the Rose’s story and how Park Place makes every experience exceptional, visit ParkPlace.com.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Karma, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
Park Place Dealerships is the official automotive sponsor of the 14th annual Autumn at the Arboretum. The festival opened September 21 and runs through October 31.
With the theme, “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” the Dallas Arboretum’s fall festival features ‘Great Pumpkin’ topiary characters such as Linus, Sally and Franklin looking through the pumpkin patch, as well as Snoopy and Woodstock on top of his dog house. Of course, mixed amongst these Fall character staples are some luxury cars from Park Place Dealerships on display around the pathways of the Arboretum.
Park Place Volvo Featured at Autumn in the ArboretumPark Place Motorcars Dallas Featured at Autumn in the Arboretum
“Park Place Dealerships is honored to continue our 10-year partnership with the Dallas Arboretum,” said Park Place Dealerships CEO Neil Grossman. “You know it’s fall in Dallas when the Dallas Arboretum’s annual fall festival opens.”
Guests can snap selfies with Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie behind the iconic brick wall. Or get lost with Pig Pen in the hay bale maze. Catch the Peanuts Gang at their gourd decorated schoolhouse for the annual autumn carnival. Named one of “The Best Pumpkin Festivals to Visit This Fall,” by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, Autumn at the Arboretum features breathtaking fall colors.
“Known for amazing and creative displays, our 50-member horticulture team creates an awesome Pumpkin Village display where more than 250,000 people visit during Autumn at the Arboretum,” said Alan Walne, Dallas Arboretum’s board chairman. “They experience the garden in its fall glory, walk in the pumpkin houses, and enjoy the programming throughout the garden.”
This year’s festival features 150,000 fall-blooming flowers and plants; 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash; 3,000 ears of corn; and 1,500 corn stalks in the Pumpkin Village. Also 900 bales of hay mixed with 24 types of pumpkin; 17 squash types and seven gourd types.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Karma, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
Park Place Maserati Dallas featured at Autumn in the ArboretumPark Place Porsche Dallas featured at Autumn in the Arboretum
Over 30 years ago our first dealership opened on Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas and as the organization grew, so did the connection to the community in which it lived, and as a result, Park Place Dealerships also expanded their dedicated time and resources for the continuous betterment of their neighbors. Now, our approach to outreach remains simple through #ParkPlaceCares, an initiative that highlights our commitment to show support for the communities that support you. It’s resulted in over 300 plus organizations supported each year with time, money, and in-kind donations.
#ParkPlaceCares
We are so grateful for the surrounding communities that we’ve been grounded in since our first Mercedes-Benz Dealership in the heart of Dallas, and we take pride in supporting these areas of the metroplex in which Park Place conducts business and where our members live and thrive. Our mission is driven even further when we can work hand-in-hand with local partners to drive action and impact far past a singular donation, event, or vehicle use.
The Park Place Cares efforts are grounded in our Four Pillars of Giving: arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education through grants, in-kind donations, event sponsorships (and more). And when the summer months roll around, our community team gets extra giddy knowing that we have the opportunity to give back to the people in charge of educating the future of Dallas-Fort Worth.
A Kick-Off To Summer: Teacher of the Year
Over the years, Park Place has expanded their Teacher of the Year celebrations to support the exceptional teachers of the Carroll, Allen, Grapevine-Colleyville, Plano, Northwest, Prosper, Fort-Worth, Mansfield, and Arlington school districts. The winners are given the opportunity to drive in-style for a summer, a small reward for the years of dedication and passionate service to our community’s families.
In 2012, Matt Woolsey spoke at the Teacher of the Year award ceremony, commenting on his close connection (and now Park Place’s tight-knit relationship) to Carroll ISD and the annual Teacher of the Year program itself:
“I looked around the room and saw a few of my son’s teachers, several current teachers that are Park Place clients, my former principal Mr. Willingham, Mr. Lowery (former superintendent), and my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Anders. I let them know how proud I was to be a Dragon, how proud I was to be the parent of a couple of Dragons….”
These words ring clearly today as the tradition of educational giving continues, and our 2019 Teacher of the Year winners are enjoying their summers in a Lexus or Mercedes.
In August 2017, Park Place Motorcars Arlington proudly kicked off a new exclusive partnership with Mansfield ISD, gifting two deserving teachers with the opportunity to sport a luxury vehicle for an entire year. Anam Ali spoke to our Education Support in Arlington saying:
“When we opened the dealership in Arlington, it was clear that we had to extend our support to the surrounding community that welcomed us so warmly back in 2015. We are elated to begin a new partnership with Mansfield ISD as they embark on a new school year, and we are eager to see what we can accomplish together.”
Later in 2019, we expanded our reach to include Arlington ISD and thanks to client and My Place star Dr. Nathanial Hearne, we continue to spread our support in the Arlington area. Dr. Nate Hearne shared his My Place Moment with us earlier this year, which began when he coached Tony Carimi, an executive at Park Place Dealerships, in basketball as a young athlete.
With a foundation of trust already built between Tony and Dr. Hearne, there was only one place that could help Dr. Hearne surprise his wife with a new car, and that was Park Place.
Now, Tony and Dr. Hearne’s story has led to an increased presence for educational support in the Arlington School District, with $10,000 being donated to the Education Foundation since our dealership’s opening.
While our educational support has evolved, Park Place’s focus on educating our up-and-comers is revitalized through an extensive dealer-wide internship program that continues to offer professional learning opportunities for 25-35 interns each year. Providing not just verbal and monetary support, but ample application-based learning opportunities is part of Park Place’s commitment to sharing our knowledge and making a difference in the surrounding communities.
This year, they are participating in a revamped program that allows each intern the opportunity to experience dealership life and corporate opportunities with a rotating schedule. It’s integral that we do our part to not just support our educators, but continue to do our part to prepare the next generation of automotive leaders.
Recap: A Summer of Giving
All of this said, the summer months are some of our absolute favorites. It’s Park Place’s opportunity to show our support for those that impact our communities the most, and hear the stories of excitement and shock as some of the most deserving people in the metroplex are presented with a new car for the summer, funds are donated to an education foundation for future classroom grants, or when we get to share a little of what we do with the future of the automotive industry. Park Place Cares, and we can’t wait to see what the future years hold as we continue to support Education in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area.
Follow @parkplacetexas and #parkplacecares to stay up to date on our community outreach and partnerships.
Park Place Lexus Grapevine embraces service tech and his family after deployment.
The story began last spring. In April 2018, U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant Joseph Rasey left North Texas for a deployment to Kuwait, leaving behind his pregnant wife Megan and two toddlers. While Sgt. Rasey was deployed, Megan gave birth to their third child, Hannah, last August, while the two older girls Josie-Anna and Martha-Eden celebrated their first and third birthdays, respectively.
On April 30, 2019, Rasey resumed his job as a service technician at Park Place Lexus Grapevine. But Park Place did much more than just hold Rasey’s job for him. They took care of his family while he was deployed.
“Joseph is part of our Park Place family,” said Gary Venner, Park Place Lexus Grapevine general manager. “So that makes Megan and the girls family, too. I can’t imagine how much this family has sacrificed for him to go and serve our country. We’re very proud of him. And we’re glad he’s home safe. We’re very happy to have him back in the shop.”
Before Rasey deployed, Park Place held a going away party for him at the Grapevine dealership
While Sgt. Rasey was deployed, Park Place Lexus Grapevine threw both girls a birthday party where the dealership gave them toys and books featuring their daddy’s voice so they could feel his presence while he was away.
“Park Place has proven they’re family,” said Joseph Rasey. “They took such loving care of my family while I was gone. There was never a question where I would work when I got back. Without doubt, Park Place is MY place.”
Sgt. Rasey just finished his third deployment. He also served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea. He was active duty for more than eight years before joining the U.S. Army Reserves.
Located at 901 East State Highway 114, off Minters Chapel Road, Park Place Lexus Grapevine is has been recognized as an Elite of Texas dealer 11 years in a row, and received a number one national ranking for customer satisfaction. In 2005, Park Place Lexus was the first automotive dealership to ever be awarded the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Escapes to Margaritaville
With a playful theme of “Escape to Margaritaville,” fans filled the Hilton Anatole ballroom May 5th looking for rare treasures, unbridled laughter and fun encounters with their favorite players and coaches at the sold-out 2019 Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular. And the Rangers hit a grand slam!
“The Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play has always been our largest fundraising event and this year’s total made a record $770,000,” said Karin Morris, executive director of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. “The funds raised at this event directly impact our programming and partnerships. Since last year’s event, we have welcomed more than 25,000 kids to the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota.”
The annual event featured Texas Rangers players, coaches, broadcasters, and alumni. Fans enjoyed unparalleled access to their favorite Rangers for autographs, photos and lively baseball conversations with a player, coach, former Rangers player or staff member seated at their table.
“This is the 15th year Park Place has been involved in this event and every year it surpasses our expectations,” said Jordan Case, Park Place Dealerships president. “Supporting the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation ensures children throughout North Texas will have opportunities to succeed through scholarships, new training facilities, and programs. Together, we are making our community stronger.”
(L to R) Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation executive director Karin Morris; and Park Place Dealerships president Jordan Case; with one of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club owners, Rangers COO and chairman of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Board Neil Leibman; Park Place Lexus Grapevine GM Gary Venner; Rangers manager Chris Woodward; and his wife, Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Advisory board member Erin Woodward. Photo Credit: Michael Ainsworth
The live and silent auctions raised more than $225,000, also a record. The highest amount in the live auction was a $31,000 bid for a trip on a private jet with Hall of Fame catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez to see the Rangers play against the Angels in Anaheim. The amount was doubled when the Rangers agreed to allow both of the two top bidders to take the trip for a total of $62,000 for the dream trip.
Other notable experiences included a roadtrip to Boston to see the Rangers play the Red Sox that included transportation on the team plane and dining with Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley; a trip to the Dominican Republic for a tour of the Rangers’ new Baseball Academy; private hitting and pitching lessons with current Rangers players, and many other exclusive experiences. Memorabilia from the worlds of sports and entertainment included a license plate signed by the stars of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off;” a framed photo autographed by legendary players Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio; an autographed seat back from the original Texas Stadium; a photo signed by the cast of “The Sandlot;” and countless signed jerseys and equipment from a wide range of sports.
Fans and players competed against each other in a spirited game of Heads or Tails. Tim Willett, auctioneer, would flip a coin and contestants placed their hands on either their head or derriere. If the coin landed on tails, all those with hands on their heads would sit down.
– Rangers players (L-toR) Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus, Joey Gallo and Hunter Pence play Heads or Tails
Contestants were eliminated round by round until only two people were left on stage. Willett tossed the coin for one final flip, and Leta Farnsworth won tickets to the Paul McCartney and Billy Joel concerts later this year at Globe Life Park.
The highlight of the evening is always when the players compete in a pair of game shows. The entertainment began with a new game: Heads Up, where a player holds a card up to their forehead with a word or name written on it. Their teammates then give them clues to try to guess the answer. Rangers pitchers Jesse Chavez and Chris Martin were teamed up with catcher Jeff Mathis to battle Rangers’ bullpen coach Oscar Marin and pitchers Shelby Miller and Drew Smyly. The resulting antics were hilarious as players stammered and shouted answers under pressure as they tried to beat the clock. Jesse Chavez was holding a card with “Kanye West” on it and his teammates prompted him with, “Kim Kardashian’s husband!” To which Chavez replied, “Chloe?” The audience erupted in laughter.
The Rangers’ rookies never fail to entertain. Kyle Dowdy, Brett Martin, Adrian Sampson and Ariel Jurado performed a hysterical skit to “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. Don’t worry. They won’t be taking this show on the road any time soon. But it certainly made for some memorable moments.
Rangers’ rookies Kyle Dowdy, Brett Martin, Adrian Sampson and Ariel Jurado perform a skit (Photo by Michael Ainsworth)
If you think the Rangers are competitive on the field, imagine what happens when the infielders match wits with the outfielders in Fielders Feud, a popular spinoff of the popular Family Feud TV game show. Players tried to guess the top answers given by 100 Rangers fans in a survey taken at Globe Life Park. Both teams were stumped when it came time to guess the fans’ responses to the question, “What are your favorite memories from Globe Life Park?”
Rangers Hall of Fame broadcaster Eric Nadel moderates Fielders Feud with Infielders Isiah Kiner-Falefa , Logan Forsythe, Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus competing against Outfielders Hunter Pence, Delino DeShields Jr, Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara
Players were able to match answers such as “Beltre’s 3000th hit” and “Striking out A-Rod in the ALCS.” But the crowd let out a gasp when “Rougie’s Punch” was not one of the top answers.
“The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation was recognized last year with the Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence for our Richard Greene Scholars program,” concluded Karin Morris. “As part of this recognition, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation will receive a $10,000 grant from Major League Baseball Charities.”
Named after the former Mayor of Arlington who led the campaign to keep the Rangers in Arlington and construct Globe Life Park, the Richard Greene Scholars program provides a $10,000 scholarship every year to a student at each of the Arlington ISD high schools. During the recipient’s senior year, he/she rotates through an internship every six weeks at different community service and local government entities.
Now in its 22nd year of operation, the Richard Greene Scholars program has provided more than $1.2 million in college scholarships to Arlington high school students. In addition to financial aid, the program has become a cornerstone leadership development program by engaging recipients with local civic and business communities, including Arlington ISD, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the City of Arlington, the Texas Rangers and the Rangers Baseball Foundation, and several other civic partners.
Since its inception in 1991, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation has invested more than $30 million in our community to help children through support of programs including the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota; youth fitness and wellness programs like the just keep livin programs; scholarships and summer programming for children in challenging circumstances.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
