Fall 2024

Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels donates $10 million home to children's camp

Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels has won a World Series, been selected to four All-Star games, and won the 2008 World Series MVP. He’s won 147 games in his 12 year career and has been one of the best left-handed pitchers of the last decade.

But his greatest accomplishment may be a donation that he and his wife Heidi made on Friday.

The couple are donating their $9.75 million mansion on Table Rock Lake in Missouri to a nonprofit organization called Camp Barnabas.

Located in Southwest Missouri, Camp Barnabas is a non-profit organization making dreams come true for individuals with special needs and chronic illnesses. Over the past 24 years, Barnabas has provided life-changing experiences to more than 75,000 campers and missionaries.

“Seeing the faces, hearing the laughter, reading the stories of the kids they serve; there is truly nothing like it,” Cole said via website. “Barnabas makes dreams come true, and we felt called to help them in a big way.”

Barnabas also includes Barnabas Prep, a two-year faith-based collegiate program based in Branson, MO designed specifically to help students with special needs recognize their strengths and potential, while challenging them to grow into their best selves. It is important to recognize the power of education for every individual regardless of their circumstances.

“Our mission is to change lives through disability ministry, and we’ve been strategically looking for ways to expand our ministry outside of a summer camp,” says Jason Brawner, CEO per The Hamels Foundation website. “We have no doubt that this gift will allow us to do just that.”

Hamels, 33, has one year remaining on his six-year, $144 million contract he signed during his time with the Phillies.