A Legacy of Achievement: Honoring Jewel and Roland Parrish

Celebrating 35 Years of Leadership, Philanthropy and Community Impact

Roland Parrish, CEO of Parrish Restaurants, Ltd., has––alongside his wife Jewel––built a prosperous enterprise. He’s also equally triumphed in his philanthropic endeavors, exemplifying what it takes to be deemed a business success. As one of the leading philanthropy organizations in historically Black college and university (HBCU) education, UNCF (United Negro College Fund) recognizes the efforts of those invested in giving back to their communities.

At the upcoming 2025 Mayors’ Masked Ball, UNCF North Texas is proud to honor the Parrishes with the Masked Award for their commitment to philanthropy and 35 years as McDonald’s owners/operators in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area. The Masked Award honors individuals, organizations or corporations who embody the UNCF motto “A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in.” ®

Parrish, an Indiana native, attended Purdue University, where he nurtured a persistent character that would serve him well as he faced challenges later in his career. Parrish was a two-time MVP of Purdue’s track team and, by his senior year, was voted captain by his teammates. Excelling not just athletically, the scholar was a fixture on the dean’s list and graduated with a BSIM and MBA from Purdue’s Krannert School of Business.

A few years after graduating, Parrish decided to apply to McDonald’s franchisee program, but the company rejected his application. He continued to contact the fast-food giant’s corporate office in Houston until he was granted acceptance into the two-year, unpaid training program. Parrish completed the McDonald’s program and worked at his full-time job simultaneously. His tenacity paid off when he opened his first McDonald’s on Juneteenth in 1989. He is now the company’s second-largest minority franchisee, owning and operating 25 restaurants in Dallas and surrounding areas.

Through their foundation, the Parrishes have given back in many ways to the Dallas-Fort Worth Texas area and beyond. The couple has financially supported local high schools and community organizations. As the second-largest investors in the Reimagine RedBird Development, the Parrishes’ donations helped bring a Marriott Hotel and hundreds of jobs to the RedBird community.

The Parrishes have donated a combined total of more than $4 million to support higher education, benefiting UNCF-member college Fisk University and Roland’s alma mater, Purdue University. In recognition of their generosity, both institutions have named buildings after Roland, with Purdue’s being the first facility at the university to bear the name of an African American. Additionally, the Parrishes contributed to the construction of a medical clinic in Uganda, which now serves 6,000 orphans annually.

The Parrishes are examples of astute entrepreneurs with a propensity for giving back, making it clear why they are deserving of the Masked Award. They stand out not only for their generosity but also for ingraining philanthropy as a core pillar of their business. Their achievements prove that when a person supports their community, their community supports them in return.