3 minute read

WE BELIEVE

from The 1600 Magazine - Summer 2023

by St. Philip's School & Community Center

from The 1600 Magazine - Summer 2023, page 48

Article from: The 1600 Magazine - Summer 2023

BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS AND FAREWELLS

CELEBRATORY EVENTS SHINE LIGHT ON WE BELIEVE CAMPAIGN DONORS, ST. PHILIP’S ATHLETICS LEGACY AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS

St. Philip’s School and Community Center’s historic, multifaceted $50M WE BELIEVE CAMPAIGN officially concluded in December 2021 and successfully secured resources to strengthen the organization’s Annual Fund, Endowment, core educational and social service programs, and community development efforts. WE BELIEVE also positioned St. Philip’s for its current growth mode that not only includes the expansion to a full pre-k through middle school program, but also the relocation and expansion of Aunt Bette’s Community Pantry, the upcoming addition of the Moody Fine & Performing Arts Pavilion, the construction of an athletic complex and community park, and the redevelopment of the 1600 block of MLK, Jr. Boulevard.

Earlier this year, two special events were held to recognize key people who have joined St. Philip’s in this important work, as well as highlight the legacy and progress of core programs impacted by their compassionate, strategic, and generous support.

On January 26, St. Philip’s unveiled the newly renovated and named Miller Family Legacy Gymnasium with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event paid tribute to both the rich legacy of athletics at St. Philip’s (over 60 years!) and honored the generosity of Carolyn and David Miller for their million- dollar contribution to St. Philip’s We Believe Campaign in support of a new athletic complex. The celebratory event also showcased the enhancements to the gymnasium that has served the South Dallas community for decades and is the centerpiece for St. Philip’s athletics program that impacts over 1,000 children and youth annually.

Dr. Bobby Lyle, former Honorary Chair of the WE BELIEVE CAMPAIGN, along with Roland Parrish, former campaign co-chair, Haywood Christopher Owens, a former NBA player and great-nephew of legendary Olympian Jesse Owens, and national lacrosse phenom and St. Philip’s alum, Nakeie Montgomery, presented at the ribbon-cutting that also highlighted the dedicated staff and volunteer coaches of the dynamic athletics program.

A month later, St. Philip’s hosted a long-awaited private celebration with donors of a unique and lucrative fundraising initiative of WE BELIEVE that took place in 2019, raising over $900,000 to support the removal and renovation of three nearby liquor related businesses. Prompted by longtime friends and campaign cabinet members, Abigail and Andrew Sinwell, the “liquor pull” project was Abigail’s milestone birthday wish come true! With the generosity of their friends, St. Philip’s neighborhood development efforts, particularly the vision to transform the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard corridor and gateway into South Dallas in collaboration with Forest Forward, Cornerstone Baptist Church, the City of Dallas, and more, has been emboldened.

It was an absolute joy to finally gather after the pandemic to formally thank the Sinwells and their generous friends for enabling St. Philip’s to continue its vital work of ridding the neighborhood it calls home of bad influences, thus contributing to the safety, peace, and health of what will soon be a thriving, transformed community. Forty years ago, the South Dallas/Fair Park community was blighted with an oversaturation of over 300 liquor stores and liquor related businesses, 48 of which were within 4 blocks of St. Philip’s campus. Today, there are less than five nearby. This is progress!

The unique stewardship event was lively and informative, complete with entertainment by Jay’s Supper Club, a visit from Ruthie’s Food Truck that will house its first bricks and mortar café in one of the buildings on MLK, Jr. Boulevard in the near future, and a tour of the “liquor pull” properties, complete with presentations from future business owners. Entrepreneurs, Deana and Christopher Young , of LifePlate, a plant-based meal delivery company, and John Sizemore, a local artisan, will operate their businesses in the renovated liquor stores within the next year.

These are exciting times for South Dallas and the St. Philip’s community. Transformation is on the horizon!

Many thanks to the following donors and friends who so thoughtfully and generously supported the WE BELIEVE CAMPAIGN “liquor pull” fundraising initiative: