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Joanna Morris
2 of 3
Joanna Morris
3 of 3
Joanna Morris
Ashlyn Burger was just 10 weeks pregnant when she learned her daughter, Penelope, would be born with Down syndrome. It was early in her pregnancy, but the weight of the diagnosis landed immediately with fear, uncertainty, and a thousand questions.
And then something else.
“We found out pretty quickly that Jake was the only active Major League Baseball player with a child who has Down syndrome,” Ashlyn says. “It felt like a very direct sign from God. Like this was our assignment.”
The Burger Family Foundation is a mission-focused organization fueled on inclusion and faith, believing that transformative purpose can arise from life’s unexpected challenges.
The Burgers' dedication to helping others through their work with the foundation is why Nashville Lifestyles wanted to spotlight Ashlyn as one of Music City’s most inspiring people.
The family’s public role, however, complements the fast-paced reality of their daily lives. Jake, a first baseman for the Texas Rangers, and Ashlyn are also parents to their son Brooks, 3. More than 40 flights a year, living in two states, and a relentless baseball schedule set their pace. But Penelope, now 1, has shifted how they navigate it as a family.
“She’s taught me that life may move at a different pace,” Ashlyn says. “But it moves with deeper meaning. The ordinary becomes sacred.”
Penelope’s early months were traumatic for the baby and the entire family. At just four months old, the little girl survived open-heart surgery. Doctors stopped her heart for five hours while surgeons repaired it, and her mother says Penelope remains “pure joy.”
That joy became the heartbeat of their foundation — inspired by Penelope and the symbolism of the extra 21st chromosome. The Burger Family Foundation exists to create opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and their families through financial assistance, therapy, community, and the healing power of wide-open spaces.
Pens Pearls, named after Penelope, is the foundation’s main source of direct financial support for families. Inspired by their own experience managing medical bills, the Burgers created Pens Pearls to help address the unpredictable and often overwhelming costs families face when caring for a loved one with Down syndrome. Pens Pearls provides funding for expenses such as therapies, equipment, or specific medical needs that insurance may not cover.
“Insurance doesn’t cover what people think it does,” Ashlyn says. “Therapy is essential — and it’s expensive. Every state handles disability services differently. Waitlists are long. Programs don’t cover everything.”
So, the Burgers decided to help in the most tangible way possible. “We write checks,” she says. “Sometimes it’s for therapy intensives. Sometimes it’s a medical device. Sometimes it’s just one session of speech therapy. We try to bridge the gap wherever insurance falls short.”
Their tangible impact quickly followed. Through foundation merchandise alone — including their #21 hat collection — they’ve funded a full year of physical therapy for four children and paid for speech therapy intensives for 10 families.
Recognizing that families needed more than financial support, the Burgers expanded their focus. Education became a new pillar, leading to the “Down syndrome is cool” campaign — a joyful, bold push to start conversations and break stereotypes.
“So many people don’t realize how capable individuals with Down syndrome are,” Ashlyn says. “They’re intelligent, funny, witty, and joy-filled. ”
Beyond advocacy, the family envisioned a place to nurture inclusion and independence. That vision became The Lucky Ranch — the foundation’s most ambitious dream yet. Jake got the idea soon after Penelope’s diagnosis.
He wanted to create a place outside, where she could work with animals and grow food. While not yet operational, The Lucky Ranch will be a safe place that combines therapy and wide-open spaces. The ranch will employ adults with Down syndrome and other disabilities, facilitate therapeutic programs, and (hopefully) create a community where people are seen for what they can do — not what they can’t.
“When you step onto The Lucky Ranch, we want our employees to feel empowered,” Ashlyn says. “And we want the community to see how capable they truly are.”
To help realize this vision, the Burgers invite the community to get involved. Their annual charity event, The Lucky Classic, draws all-star participation, including baseball legends and country stars who fly in to show their support
“That kind of support is loud,” Ashlyn says. “It tells families they matter.” Even more powerful are the quiet moments — traveling to games and spotting families in opposing stadiums wearing foundation merch. Ashlyn explains it reminds everyone “we’re all on the same team.”
Amid the whirlwind of events and initiatives, Penelope has only deepened their family’s connection. Even as they continue to travel and juggle bases in two states, the couple now balances their schedule around their daughter’s therapy appointments.
What has changed is perspective.
“She’s taught us to slow down,” Ashlyn says. “To notice the small things we take for granted — health, milestones, presence.”
Ashlyn wants families to know they don’t have to have everything f igured out immediately. They don’t have to be strong all the time. And they’re not alone.
When she talks about success, Ashlyn doesn’t mention numbers. “It’s breaking stigmas,” she says. “Helping families feel hope. Creating belonging. Supporting as many people as we can.”