"The impact of St. Philip's School and Community Center in our city has been on-going for decades," said Dallas Stars President Brad Alberts. "The Legacy Project is allowing the Dallas Stars and the Dallas Stars Foundation to help further spotlight the incredible work of St. Philip's and Dr. Terry Flowers. It is our responsibility as corporate citizens to use our resources to partner with community organizations to positively impact the city that we call home. We will be helping grow the dynamic vision of an organization that's been actively invested and well-respected in our community for over 70 years."
The pledge to St. Philip's School and Community Center will assist in building a new multi-sport athletic complex and funding after-school and summer programming initiatives. Along with the financial commitment, the Dallas Stars Foundation will place a significant focus on using its resources to help assist with creating and facilitating volunteer projects and opportunities at St. Philip's and in the surrounding community.
"St. Philip's is blessed to call the Dallas Stars a partner in our endeavor to ensure South Dallas is a healthy, thriving community in our city," said Flowers. "Together, we will make a big impact on the lives of so many of our neighbors."
St. Philip's is an inner-city private school in South Dallas serving 240 students, grades PK2 - 6th, and a dynamic community center providing a myriad of vital educational, social services, and neighborhood development programs to over 3,000 children, youth, and adults annually. The organization, which has been deemed "the miracle on Pennsylvania Avenue," ultimately hopes to transform South Dallas, our city, and the world by FAITH, EDUCATION, and SERVICE.
"Every team that has had the honor of hosting the Winter Classic® has been challenged by the NHL to create a Legacy Project to impact their community in a meaningful and long-lasting way," said Turco. "Hosting the League's premier outdoor event is giving us a unique platform to provide an extraordinary opportunity to a local community organization and to create something that will last beyond the Winter Classic®. The Foundation's commitment to St. Philip's School and Community Center will be more than just the Legacy Project. We will use our platform and vast network of resources to support and enhance the incredible vision St. Philip's has for the Dallas community."
Following the lead of TREC, the Dallas Stars and Dallas Stars Foundation commitment to St. Philip's adds to the groundwork laid by the Dallas Catalyst Project. Launched in 2017, the Dallas Catalyst Project is a three-year investment of more than $1 million in grants and pro bono professional services work to revitalize the Forest District in Southern Dallas. Working in partnership with St. Philip's School and Community Center, CitySquare and Cornerstone Baptist Church, TREC members are helping renovate 12,000-plus square feet of historic retail space, restore the iconic Forest Theater's façade and construct community engagement spaces. Since then, TREC has doubled its investment with members leveraging their time, connections, knowledge and resources to provide additional community enhancements.
"The Real Estate Council has been a longtime community partner in growing and supporting southern Dallas," said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. "I am excited that the Dallas Stars Foundation has chosen St. Philip's for its Legacy Project. Through this significant contribution and partnership, we can further the revitalization of this neighborhood and amplify the school and community center's impact."
The Dallas Stars will host the Nashville Predators in the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at Cotton Bowl Stadium® in Dallas, Texas on Jan. 1, 2020. The 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will mark the first NHL regular-season outdoor game for both the Stars and the Predators. The game continues the tradition the League established in 2008 of hosting a regular-season outdoor game at the onset of the new year with the 2020 edition marking the 12-year anniversary of the first NHL Winter Classic in Buffalo.
