About Destiny
The Destiny Award Luncheon is the signature fundraising event benefiting St. Philip’s School and Community Center (St. Philip’s). This year, the event celebrates 25 years of honoring Dallas’ altruistic history, bringing dynamic speakers to engage St. Philip’s diverse stakeholders and key community members.
At the luncheon, attendees will enjoy a special conversation with the Parrish Family Destiny Award Speaker, NBA legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving, moderated by three-time Olympic gold medalist and icon Jackie Joyner-Kersee, making it a truly inspirational occasion. The Mona and Dave Munson Humanitarian Award will be presented to Rozene Pride to honor her and the late Charley Pride for their work to significantly bridge diverse communities. The award reflects the belief in the oneness of humankind and the shared destiny that links us all.
St. Philip’s continues to shine as a beacon of light, hope, and transformation in South Dallas. It provides exceptional education for children from PreK2 to 8th grade, with a remarkable track record of success: 100% of St. Philip’s alumni graduate from high school, and 95% go on to college, far surpassing the local neighborhood’s high school graduation rate of 48% and college attendance rate of 4%. Notably, in May 2024 St. Philip’s graduated its first class of 8th graders. These 13 scholars earned over $300,000 in high school scholarships, a testament to the school’s academic excellence. Also in September 2024, St. Philip's was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School, an extraordinary national achievement that underscores the school's dedication to educational quality and innovation.
Funds raised through the Destiny Awards Luncheon directly support St. Philip’s community operations. Each year, St. Philips serves over 8,000 neighbors, providing critical services such as senior transportation, housing, hunger relief through Aunt Bette’s Community Pantry, and enrichment programs for children and families. These efforts, combined with St. Philip’s founding athletics programs serving over 1500 children, ensure that the school continues to be a pillar of support and growth in the community.
St. Philip’s is truly the miracle at 1600 Pennsylvania.
About Destiny
The Destiny Award Luncheon is the signature fundraising event benefiting St. Philip’s School and Community Center. At the luncheon, a conversation with the Parrish Family Destiny Award Speaker takes place, in addition to presenting the Mona and Dave Munson Humanitarian Award to a deserving individual(s) who has demonstrated exceptional work in bridging diverse communities. Their work exemplifies the importance of embracing the belief in the oneness of human kind in which the destiny of the world is linked.
St. Philip’s School and Community Center is a beacon of light, hope, and transformation in South Dallas. St. Philip’s provides an exceptional education to children from PreK2 to 8th Grade [ages 2 to 14]. St. Philip’s success is evident: 100% of St. Philips alumni graduate from high school and 95% attend college, while the graduation rate for the neighborhood high school is only 48%, with 4% going on to college.
Each year, the Community Center serves more than 8,000 of our neighbors - including children, youth, entire families and seniors. Through the Community Center, St. Philip’s provides SENIOR SERVICES including transportation to local pharmacies and grocery stores; addresses HUNGER through Aunt Bette’s Community Pantry and Meals on Wheels; deepens STUDENT ENGAGEMENT through key enrichment programs such as mentoring and summer learning programs; and continues with its founding ATHLETIC programs serving over 700 children!