Roland G. Parrish

Roland G. Parrish is committed to giving back to the Dallas community through a focus on causes that support the education and welfare of youth.

Some of the many projects Parrish has initiated in the Dallas area include the annual “McMiracle on Highway 67 Christmas Bike Giveaway,” The Roland Parrish Band Competition, The Parrish Foundation Invitational Scholarship Debate, and The Parrish Restaurants Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame. He has also established scholarships at various high schools which include South Oak Cliff, Spruce, DeSoto, Duncanville, Skyline, and St. Philips School. Additionally, Parrish has supported the St. Mark’s School of Texas with their annual fundraising efforts to feed the homeless at Austin Street Center.

Through his Parrish Charitable Foundation, he is sponsoring a four-year $250,000 fellowship with the Texas Rangers Baseball Club team’s Charlie Pride internship. The 10-week internship program is named after the late country music icon who was the first Black superstar in this music genre. The Foundation also built and supports a medical clinic in Fort Portal, Uganda that serves 6,000 orphans each year.

“I believe in providing educational opportunities. The gift that keeps on giving. If I can assist a student with attaining a degree or skill, so that they can live the American Dream; then hopefully they will reach out and pull someone else forward.”

In 2023, the Dallas Park and Recreation Board voted to recognize the local businessman with a new park in east Oak Cliff for his philanthropic spirit. It will be called the Roland G. Parrish Park in the Cadillac Heights community.

Parrish made history by being the only Chairman and CEO of The National Black McDonald’s Operators Association to serve an unprecedented three consecutive terms. During his tenure, Parrish established the “NBMOA Foundation” to raise scholarship funds for students.

Parrish has served on numerous boards and committees including the Ronald McDonald’s House Charities of Greater North Texas, NBA Dallas Mavericks, MLB – Texas Rangers Foundation, Oncor Foundation, The

Methodist Hospital Foundation the Salvation Army, St. Philip’s School and Community Center and the Communities Foundation of Texas. Parrish received his BSIM and MBA from Purdue University where he was a scholar athlete.