St. Philip’s School and Community Center will host the 23rd Annual Destiny Award Luncheon featuring Emmy and Golden Globe winner Sterling K. Brown on March 3rd. The Destiny Luncheon will feature a spirited and engaging conversation with Brown, in addition to performances by St. Philip’s students, tributes to St. Philip’s alumni and the presentation of the 2023 Mona and David Munson Humanitarian Award to Ellen and John McStay.
The Destiny Award Luncheon is the signature fundraising event for St. Philip’s School and Community Center. All funds raised from the event benefit the programs that service the 260+ students enrolled at St. Philip’s School, in addition to the more than 4,000 children, adults and seniors active in the St. Philip’s Community Center. Since its inception, the Destiny Award Luncheon has raised over $5 Million to support essential educational and social service programs at St. Philip’s School and Community Center.
It’s time again for the Annual Destiny Award Luncheon at St. Philip’s! The SMG Report has covered a share of these wonderful events and this year’s event is on par with the greatness of previous years! In prior years, we were on hand to behold conversations with the likes of Cicely Tyson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Taraji P. Henson. The Destiny Awards Luncheon brings together some of DFW’s greatest givers and each year, funds are raised to continue the excellence for which St. Philip’s is known. We look forward to this enthralling conversation with such a bright star in Hollywood and beyond. If tickets are still available, you can get them, here.
WITHERITE LAW GROUP AND FIESTA PARTNER TO FEED OVER 1,200 FAMILIES ACROSS THE METROPLEX THIS THANKSGIVING
Witherite Law Group spreads holiday cheer across Dallas-Fort Worth by giving away $20,000 in groceries and 1,000 turkeys to local families
Witherite Law Group, 1-800-TruckWreck, Dallas’ prominent hip hop and R&B radio stations and Fiesta are joining together to provide meals to Dallas-Fort Worth-area families this Thanksgiving – feeding over 1,200 families across the Metroplex.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices increased approximately 11 percent over the last year, the largest increase in 23 years. More specifically, turkey prices are expected to be higher than previous years due to a combination of inflation and the effects of avian influenza, making it more difficult for already constrained families to meet their daily dietary needs. Witherite Law Group and its partners are committed to serving the community and ensuring those impacted by economic circumstances can have a healthy meal this holiday season.
Witherite Law Group, along with K104-FM Dallas, will host its annual Turkey Giveaway where 1,000 turkeys will be given to families in need from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at Fiesta Mart #65, 2225 W. Ledbetter Dr., Dallas, TX 75224. The event is free and open to the community. Registration is not required. Tickets for the turkeys will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
“This is the second year that we’ve experienced significant increases in food costs, as well as a shortage of some pantry staples. And there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight,” said Amy Witherite, founder of Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck. “We’re working with our partners to ease the economic hardships associated with the increase in food prices and ensure families in need have access to healthy meals this holiday season.”
In addition to the turkey giveaway, Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck will host the $20,000 Grocery Gift Giveaway in partnership with Majic 94.5 and 97.9 The Beat where 200 people will receive one $100 Fiesta Mart gift card each. The $20,000 Grocery Gift Giveaway will be held on Friday, November 11, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Fiesta Mart #76, 4245 E. Berry St., Fort Worth, TX 76105.
It’s one of the most anticipated philanthropic events in Dallas each year and this year will be no variation. The St. Philip’s School and Community Center welcome Basketball Hall of Famer, NBA Champion, analyst and businessman Shaquille O’Neal to their 22nd Destiny Awards Luncheon. O’ Neal joins a laundry list of other world famous greats to grace the stage at the Destiny Award Luncheon. The list reads like a who’s who of Dallas business elite and socialites and is definitely one of the hottest tickets on the calendar, each year. Dallas shows up big for St. Philip’s so that the school and community center can show up big for the students it serves.
The luncheon has welcomed the likes of the late Cicely Tyson, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, NBA icon Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Taraji P. Henson and many others to their luncheon which provides and opportunity for local leaders to lend a hand to further the work of the school at ‘the other 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Destiny Awards is an annual luncheon benefiting St. Philip’s School and Community Center. The luncheon features incredible scholars, athletes, and celebrities as keynote speakers and in moderated conversations. The Humanitarian Award is granted to a local individual or couple who has demonstrated exceptional work bridging relationships between diverse communities. All funds raised will directly benefit services promoting Christian education, senior services, hunger, student engagement, and athletics.
Each year, the conversation, special guest and moderator are all the talk of the town. What comes across in the conversation is talked about just as much as the conversationalists, themselves. This year, Avery Johnson, former player and coach of the Dallas Mavericks will join O’Neal in conversation. The men will do more than ‘talk shop’ about sports.
Both men have enjoyed post playing careers as successful businessmen, an inspirational feat the young learners and and luncheon attendees will love to learn about. Johnson will join other wonderful speaker and moderator pairings such as Soledad O’Brien with Cicely Tyson and Rolando Blackmon with Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
It should go without saying but, the conversation serves as the highlight of the award luncheon. The hallmark of the Destiny Award Luncheon is the unmatched experience of great music, great food, great students and a great conversation. Make plans to attend and be in the room where your donations will help many young dreams come true!
“The Big Aristotle” comes to the luncheon as the Parrish Family Destiny Award Luncheon Speaker and is best known for an NBA career spanning nearly two decades and earning him the sport’s highest honors, including membership in the NBA Hall of Fame. The four-time NBA Champion, 15-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA Finals MVP has been named one of the most influential athletes by Forbes magazine. Shaquille O’Neal isn’t only a legendary athlete; he has also established himself as a powerful media personality and businessman over the years. Ranked among ‘‘The 100 Most Creative People in Business’’ last year by Fast Company magazine, O’Neal is currently an NBA analyst on TNT’s Emmy-award winning show, Inside the NBA on TNT.
Notables for this luncheon are:
Luncheon Chair: Pete Chilian
Underwriting Chair: Mark Copeland
Honorary Chairs: Rebecca and Rob Landin
Mona and David Munson Humanitarian Award Recipient: Dr. Bobby B. Lyle
The Destiny Award Luncheon is going BIG in more ways than one. The luncheon and fundraiser is normally held on the campus but this year, the luncheon and awards will take place in the Hyatt Regency Dallas in the Landmark Ballroom. The student showcase begins at 10:30 and ends at 11:30 when the luncheon begins. Each year, attendees get to see the fruit of their labor as current students make presentations and former students poised to graduate high school are celebrated.
This year’s theme is, “Excellence is a Habit” and the St. Philip’s school has communicated this to students through staff and donors. Tickets are still available for this year’s luncheon. To purchase tickets, a table or sponsorship, please visit the Destiny Luncheon and Awards page at stphilips1600.org.
Kisha Grandy’s new album “Epitome” is out now, and it features amazing vocals from the hidden gem. The album begins with a snippet of The Clark Sisters classic, “Endow Me” which sets the tone for the album and Grandy’s big vocals.
The first full-length song of the album is “The Pursuit” an urban gospel jam. Grandy said of this track that she wanted to show her range and for those expecting it, that she has more than a gospel squall. This was one of the first songs completed on the project and like many of the songs, has relatable elements. “The Pursuit” touches the journey for Grandy’s pursuit of a music career, saying “I dreamed of this moment happening for me, but I didn’t think it come to pass since it’s been so long.
“I decided to pursue jazz, but a lady came to me and told me I would meet a guy I didn’t know that would do my entire project” (speaking of the father and son team of KJ Productions).
The next song on the album is “Fully Committed” another urban jam which Kisha says she feels the songwriter knew her in a former life and wrote about it. “Life has been challenging so, I’ve had issues with commitment…it’s personal to me. Totally easy recording this song because it’s me, it’s my life.” Adding to the conversation of Grandy’s range, this song features more of her robust lower vocal range.
“You Did It” is the first single from the album and what many listeners may already be familiar with from the “Epitome” project. Grandy says the song resonated with what she had gone through and is now walking into. “God did it when I thought it wouldn’t happen!”
She started at St Paul MBC and continues to sing each song like it’s her last time. Her voice, still easily recognizable after many years away from major artist attention, Grandy is back with the same power singing a new song. “I don’t know how to sing any other way. When I sing, I have to give it my all!”
Kisha Grandy Photo By: Kauwaune Burton
Since “The Family” was suddenly disbanded on the road and an era of gospel music came crashing down with little to no fanfare, Kisha Grandy has been everywhere. She’s been on stages and made an unforgettable name for herself as Vianne Griffin in “I Can Do Bad All By Myself”. She has seen so much and has taken in all the sights and sounds of an ever-evolving entertainment industry that makes little room for growing artists. But, Kisha Grandy is no growing artist. She’s an industry veteran, assuming her place where she has always belonged.
After experiencing the crushing blow of a dream that came crashing down with no recourse or recompense, it has been a long road to recover any semblance of industry potency but, Kisha Grandy is here in this moment, full circle! Kisha Grandy epitomizes the determination and willpower needed to last and survive the seasons of volatility in an ever-evolving entertainment industry.
Following the first single is a strong lead for the album’s next single, “Work It Out.” This funky, upbeat jam is one you can’t sit still to. You got to move to this one, but don’t miss the mastery in the music. There’s a breakdown in the song and an introduction to yet another layer of Kisha Grandy’s magic…scat! Grandy’s scat harkens back to her pursuit of a career as a jazz singer and she does it well. The chant during the chorus of the song title is crowd friendly and is what you will be repeating long after the song is done.
This song was a last-minute addition to the project and quite challenging but Grandy said that she was up for the challenge of adding an uptempo song, so late. All is not lost and much of what Grandy used to complete this song is “the little things” she learned while a member of “The Family” under the tutelage of Kirk Franklin.
Speaking of “The Family”, Kisha tapped “Mother” Sheila Brice to help her on the Hawkins classic, “God Is Standing By”. If you were waiting on a ‘Kisha Grandy song’, this is it. This is good old-school gospel music, what we used to hear in the car on KHVN 970 AM, and sing at church on Sunday morning. That squall you’ve been waiting for all album? You’ll find it, here. If you’re a shoe thrower, start unlacing your kicks now and be prepared to throw more than one!
When asked about the inclusion of “Mother”, Kisha says, “I was ready to record this one and I couldn’t think of anyone else to record this with-the backbone of “The Family,” Mother was always the one with reason.” For her part on the project, “Mother” said, “I asked Kisha, “Are you sure, why me?” People don’t have to be kind and don’t have to be kind to you! I thank God for everything that Kisha has done. Sometimes you think people have forgotten about you.“
Next up on the project is the best of both worlds with “All Because of You” featuring Kelton Je’Von. To sum up this track, let’s just say, ‘trap meets scat.’ Kisha was singing with a jazz group when she began work on the album so they decided to make the scat a part of the song.
Kisha Grandy Photo by: Kauwaune Burton
Back with more of Kisha Grandy’s gospel roots, the project pushes forward with a full, a cappella rendition of the Clark Sisters classic, “Endow Me.” Kisha confesses that she’s channeling one of her influences, Evangelist Dorinda Clark- Cole as she sings with her cousins VAA’DAM. Grandy wanted to pay homage to the first ladies of gospel music and thank them for their influence on singers, musicians, and the gospel industry as a whole. Many of their songs carry intricate harmonies and melodies that aren’t easily replicated but Grandy is satisfied with her offering saying, “I can’t sing like The Clark Sisters, but I put my foot in it!”
In another ‘family reunion’, Grandy teams up with husband-and-wife tandem Pastor Darrell and Latonja Blair for “More Than Ever.” You remember Blair from “The Family” as one of the men contributing to the signature sound. Following a few adlibs from Latonja, the song evolves into a duet with Kisha and Pastor Blair. The refrain echoed throughout the song comes from the scripture 2 Chronicles 7:14. What this track lacks is made up of sheer vocal power! Aside from an a cappella cover of “Endow Me”, this is the only track with no drums. This subtraction adds to the appeal of the song and launches it into contention alongside major mainstream offerings. This song will be on repeat and hopefully on the airwaves, as well. Such a timely song with a timeless message!
“The song resonated with me, and I knew the perfect person to help me call on God was Darrell.”
Get used to seeing Kisha Grandy and Norris J, the two are regular collaborators and have teamed up for the “You Did It” remix. Norris J says it was an easy yes for him, continuing their longstanding kinship as vocalist and lyricist. GRAMMY Award-winning recording and mix engineer, Rickey “Slikk Music” Offord produced the remix adding to his list of credits on the project.
This next one’s for the singers, “For I Know” featuring Terrell Carter. TC doesn’t hold back and brings his signature vocal clarity and acrobatics to the track as the two remind listeners that “it’s gonna get better!” Grandy says that working with Carter was the most challenging because it was hard to keep up with how impeccably he could riff throughout the song. The song is a musical conversation between longtime friends since the Tour of Life in 1996. Grandy says of Carter, “Terrell has always been an intricate person in my life, whenever I call him, he’ll drop whatever he’s doing to see what I want. He’s never forgotten me and I will always be indebted to him.”
The title track of the album is what Grandy calls “the Kirk Franklin song” alluding to the fact that putting it together reminded her of the way they put songs together while singing with “The Family.” The song closes with more scatting and Grandy’s voice-over summing up the project, “Epitome…that’s me!”
A new episode of the true crime docu-series Sins of The Cityairs this Thursday, June 3 at 9 p.m. ET/8C on TV One. This week, the series spotlights an unexpected robbery ring involving a local Dallas football team. Various experts, community leaders, family members, and the like, provide real-life perspective and insight into the cities profiled this season. On this episode, Sins of the City explores the 1988 Carter High School Football Team armed robbery scandal. Dallas is known as a true football town, which was the perfect cover up for the town’s “golden boys”. Though dealing with racism, the young athletes overcame by winning their local championship.
However, 21 armed robberies to two of the star players rocking the community to its’ core. Sins of The City is a close-ended docu-series exposing the underbelly of American cities and highlighting perplexing crimes that will forever alter the fabric of these communities.Through first-hand storytelling, Sins of The City depicts investigators working through the evidence to secure case leads, as narration and interviews capture the history behind each city’s woeful tale.
Sins of The City is produced for TV One by Jeff Collins and Deborah Allen (Executive Producers), and Victoria Duley (Co-Executive Producer) of Catalina Content, LLC. For TV One, Susan Henry is Executive Producer in Charge of Production; Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting; and Robyn Greene Arrington is Vice President of Original Programming and Production. For more information, please visit TV One’s Youtube Channel to check out exclusive content for Sins of the City. TV One viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hashtag #SINSOFTHECITY.
The groundbreaking feature film “Carter High” told the story of the 1988 Carter Cowboys, but this episode of “Sins of the City” take a look at the darker side of that epic season that saw the Carter Cowboys’ dream season come crashing down. The episode airs this Thursday at 9 P.M. ET/8C
