How Ashlyn Burger and Her Family Are Building a Legacy Beyond the Baseball Field
Inspired by their daughter Penelope, who was born with Down syndrome, Ashlyn and MLB star Jake Burger turned love into action, creating The Burger Family Foundation and Lucky Ranch to empower others. Image: Joanna Morris
When Ashlyn Burger and her husband, Texas Rangers star Jake Burger, welcomed their daughter Penelope in October, their lives changed in the most profound way. Born with Down syndrome, Penelope became not only the heart of their family but also the inspiration behind The Burger Family Foundation and Lucky Ranch, a forthcoming College Grove haven designed to empower people with disabilities. Through her compassion, conviction, and belief that love can move mountains, Ashlyn is building something that reaches far beyond her own family β a legacy of inclusion and hope.
βJake and I were spending the off-seasons here in Nashville, and after we had Brooks β our now 3-year-old β we decided it was time to fully make the move,β Ashlyn says. βI couldnβt imagine living or raising my kids anywhere else!β The Burgers now call College Grove home, where faith, family, and community ground every decision they make.
That sense of purpose deepened with Penelopeβs birth. βWhen we were told our daughter would be born with Down syndrome, and that Jake was the only active MLB player with a child with DS, the βwhyβ behind our purpose felt as if God had laid it right in front of us,β Ashlyn explains. βThat inspired the birth of The Burger Family Foundation.β
From that moment, the coupleβs lives became a testament to faith and advocacy in action. The Burger Family Foundation is designed to bridge the gaps so many families face, both emotional and financial, when raising a child with disabilities.
βWe have noticed there are too many financial gaps and holes when it comes to people with disabilities. Either insurance doesnβt βcoverβ something, or itβs deemed βtoo littleβ of an expense for a grant,β Ashlyn says. βWe see this as the perfect opportunity to be able to assist! Weβre there to bridge the gap, and weβre so thankful and privileged to be able to do just that for many families.β
But the Burgersβ vision didnβt stop there. Out of their deep love for Penelope, and a desire to create opportunities for others like her, they launched Lucky Ranch. Itβs a first-of-its-kind project in College Grove that will eventually include a farm-to-table restaurant and coffee shop employing people with disabilities.
βLucky Ranch was created on the idea of what we envisioned Penelopeβs life to possibly be one day,β Ashlyn shares. βOur own dream as a family is to have a ranch, and as we created the foundation, Jake and I both thought, βWhat if we built this as a place for everyone?β and it grew bigger, into βWhat if we can employ adults with different abilities?'β
Itβs the kind of vision that feels right at home in Tennessee, a place Ashlyn describes with simple reverence. βJake and I always say Tennessee feels as if itβs βGodβs country,β and I donβt think thereβs any better way to describe it.β
And while much of their energy goes toward building a foundation (both literally and figuratively), Ashlyn is honest about the importance of balance. βThere is nothing a little Bible reading with my husband and a hot coffee canβt fix,β she tells us.
Faith is the thread that runs through everything Ashlyn does, guiding her through the challenges of motherhood, marriage, and beyond. βI would tell myself not to let anyone tell me βshe canβt or wonβt be able to do something,β Ashlyn says of the advice sheβd give her pre-mom self. βAnd to make sure she grows up knowing there are no limits for her just because she has Down syndrome.β
Itβs a perspective that continues to inspire others β not just through their foundation, but also through events like The Lucky Classic, the coupleβs inaugural celebrity charity softball game.
βWhat better way to blend our two worlds of baseball and our home in Nashville [than] an incredible event to raise money for our foundation and awareness for Down syndrome?β she says. βYou can expect a lot of laughs, some of your favorite country artists, and some pretty remarkable ball players coming from almost every MLB team to support families just like ours.β
Still, amid the excitement, Ashlyn never loses sight of what matters most. βYour children grow older every day, so slow down and grow alongside them,β she says. Itβs advice thatβs become something of a personal mantra.
And when sheβs not pouring her heart into family and philanthropy, Ashlyn keeps things refreshingly real. βCoffee, my Kindle, and pilates!β she says when asked what she canβt live without. She also praises the whipped feta from Sadieβs and red light therapy masks. As for her dream trip? βSomewhere without any sporting event!β she teases.
Through it all, Ashlyn radiates the same warmth that fuels her foundation β a belief that every child, every family, and every dream deserves to be seen and supported. With Lucky Ranch on the horizon, sheβs proving love, inclusion, and purpose truly make for a winning team.
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Editorial Operations Manager and Lead Content Editor. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.