What:               Christmas is coming early for vulnerable children in West Dallas served by Buckner International at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex Presented by Toyota. Texas Rangers Chief Operating Officer Neil Leibman is throwing a Christmas party for 125 Academy kids, which will include Rangers' new manager, Chris Woodward, Rangers and Buckner executives, Santa and Frosty.
 
The party and gifts for the children are funded by Leibman, who is also the chairman of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation board, and his wife, Amy Leibman. In addition, The Torchmark Corporation has made a significant donation of toys that were collected at the company's holiday party earlier this month. Torchmark is the parent company of Globe Life Accident and Insurance Company, which is the presenting sponsor of the Globe Life Training Center at the Youth Academy. The Buckner Family Hope Center is supplying additional games, activities and decoration.
 
Many of the kids invited to the party are served by the Academy's on-site Buckner Family Hope Center.
 
Buckner opened its Family Hope Center at the Rangers MLB Youth Academy in 2018 as a way of further supporting the children who attend the Academy, as well as their parents and siblings. Buckner operates Family Hope Centers across Texas and in six countries. The Academy officially opened in December 2017 as part of Major League Baseball's RBI program to serve children in inner cities across the country.
 
Buckner Family Hope Centers are child-centered, family-focused places where families go to find hope, support, and empowerment in their community to reach their fullest potential. For more information, click here.
 
Who:                Buckner North Texas is a faith-based nonprofit ministry dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children, families and senior adults. Buckner North Texas is an extension of Buckner International, which was founded in 1879 in Dallas and today serves people in the United States and internationally through a variety of programs designed to protect children and build strong families. Learn more and get involved at Buckner.org/Dallas-Fort-Worth.
 
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, which employs staff to oversee the Academy and works with Mercy Street and their existing programming, is dedicated to improving the lives of children in need within our community and provides funding for youth in crisis, youth health initiatives, youth baseball programs, and youth education. Celebrating its 27th year, the Foundation has given back more than $15 million to help children in need.
 
When:             TONIGHT, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018
                        5:00 pm - 7:00 pm CT
           
Where:             Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex Presented by Toyota
                        2303 Bickers St.; Dallas, TX 75212
                        Media parking is the lot behind the Globe Life Training Center.
Visuals/
Interview          Texas Rangers Chief Operating Officer Neil Leibman and manager Chris Woodward
Opps:               Christmas activities and presents
                        Santa and Frosty the Snowman
Buckner program participants (children and parents)
Buckner spokespeople