The Association of St. Augustine High School Alumni - DFW
2021 Mardi Gras Ball
About the Mardi Gras Ball
The Association of St. Augustine Alumni – DFW Chapter’s Annual Mardi Gras Ball is a premier fundraising gala and major social event focusing on raising awareness and support for our alma mater’s 69-year mission of educating and molding deserving young black men in the city of New Orleans to become leaders equipped to improve the world. This exclusive, “must-attend” event is designed to be one of DFW’s finest evenings of fun, good food, glitz and glamour that will have attendees feeling like they are in New Orleans enjoying the pageantry of Mardi Gras.
Based on New Orleans traditions, the BALL is known for its food and music including Carnival Indians and a Brass Band. For our inaugural event, we are honored to have Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Mr. Dean Baquet to serve as our Grand Marshall. Mr. Baquet is the executive editor of the New York Times and is also a proud 1974 graduate of St. Augustine High School.
Event Details
The annual Mardi Gras Ball is the DFW Chapter’s largest and most significant event each year. The event targets local DFW professionals, corporations, small businesses and other community-based organizations. For five (5) hours attendees will experience the flare of New Orleans hospitality, music, food and fun. When complete, everyone will have learned a little bit about the cause of helping St. Aug to continue its mission and how their support improves the lives of students and their families.
When: January 4, 2021 - 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Where: Ruthe Jackson Center – Grand Prairie, TX
The Event Venue
The Ruthe Jackson Center
3113 S Carrier Parkway Grand Prairie, Texas 75052
Your Entertainment
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
D.J. Professor Breez
Why Sponsor?
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Photo of St. Aug Marching
100 legendary
band director
Edwin Hampton.
Black and white photograph of
St. Augustine High School
basketball team located in
the National Museum
of African American History and
Culture, Washington, D.C.
Sponsors of this event will gain access to a ground floor opportunity to market their brand, products or services to professionals from across the DFW area and from cities across the US. Our fellow chapter in Atlanta has been hosting their Mardi Gras Ball for 15 years and now attracts over 1,500 guests annually to their event. While we have chosen to cap attendance to our inaugural event at 400 in order to ensure that we produce the right experience, we fully expect to grow our event to the scale of our brethren in Atlanta. Professionals who attend this event will come from all walks of life and are consumers of all types of goods and services. We encourage you to take a look at this unique opportunity to support our ‘party with a cause’ and grow with us over the coming years.
Photo of the World-Famous St. Aug Marching 100 performing on
Mardi Gras Day.
2021 Mardi Gras Ball - Sponsorship Packages
TBA
2021 Mardi Gras Ball - Ad Specifications
Ad Sizes Available - Width x Height in Inches
TBA
Our 2021 Grand Marshal
TBA
Our 2020 King
Vernon R Mullen
Vernon Mullen was born in the Calliope Projects in
New Orleans on Louisiana Ave., before moving to
Bienville Ave. in Faubourg Treme. He attended
St Katherine Catholic School before transferring to
the Westbank where his family moved to Harvey
off Manhattan Blvd., then a dirt road. He attended
All Saints Catholic School in Algiers for five years before
testing to attend the Eight Grade at St Augustine High
School (St. Aug). Vernon passed the entrance exam
and became part of the second St. Aug Eighth Grade
Class in 1962. Vernon played basketball at St. Aug
for three years and was captain of the Eighth Grade
and Freshman Teams. Vernon spent five years on the
St. Aug Track Team and quit basketball to focus on
his studies.
Vernon’s Dad died when he was 12 years old and his mother raised seven children alone. He was unable to pay the $15 per month tuition so St. Aug allowed him to cut the lawns to pay for his tuition and fees. Vernon cut the lawns for five years and now drives by to inspect the lawns whenever he is near the school. Vernon says he was unable to pay his lunch fee so St. Aug allowed him to pick up trays and wipe tables to cover his lunch fee. Vernon worked at St. Aug during the summers to get funds to pay for other school expenses.
After St. Aug Vernon attended Xavier University and with his advanced study at St. Aug had little difficulty in receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Vernon engaged in work-study at Xavier to cover his college expenses.
After Xavier, Vernon accepted a position with Johnson & Johnson Medical Products, Inc. in Sherman, Texas. He began his career at J&J as a production supervisor before moving into human resources where he recruited other students from Xavier. Vernon spent 15 years at J&J in Sherman and in Arlington, Texas and worked in several different J&J Divisions including Arbrook, Ortho Diagnostics and Surgikos. Vernon left J&J and assumed the position of Vice President of Human Resources at the Dallas Market Center. He was later elevated to Executive Vice President and worked for the Trammell Crow Family at the Market Center for 15 years. During that time, Vernon served as President of the 1500 member Dallas Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), where he is also a life member.
Vernon left the Dallas Market Center and spent 15 years as Assistant Vice President Office of Equal Opportunity and Minority Affairs for the University of Texas (UT) Medical Center. During his stay at UT Southwestern, Vernon was presented the EVE Award for Exemplary Voluntary Efforts in diversity programs by then U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, now U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
Vernon recently served as Vice President of Human Resources for Corsicana Bedding Company in Corsicana, Texas while working for Resources Group Professionals (RGP) as a senior consultant in human resources management.
Vernon has been active in civic and community affairs. He is a past Trustee and/or Board Member of the following organizations:
The Catholic Foundation of Dallas
The Dallas Arboretum
Advisory Board of Circle Ten Council Boy Scouts of America
Dallas Urban League
Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas Museum of Science (The Science Place)
Children’s Medical Center Hospital
Children’s Medical Center Foundation
Dallas County Community Relations Commission
Dallas Association of Business
Ft. Worth Community Leaders and Citizens Council
Mid-Cities Association of Business
Ursuline Academy Parents Board
Jesuit College Preparatory Parents Board
Vernon is the recipient of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award for outstanding service in scouting to youth in rural and low-income communities and also The Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to the Boy Scouts of America.
Vernon firmly believes that he would not have accomplished his career success and his success in civic and community affairs without the support and direction he received during his five years at St. Aug. Vernon says that the main reason he continues his support of St. Aug is so other young African males can receive the same opportunities he received.
Hotel Accommodations
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GROUP ROOM RATES
Our Sponsors
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The Kings of Mardi Gras
Donations welcomed
All proceeds raised will help support a student scholarship fund for St Augustine High School in New Orleans, LA. Non Profit 501c3 filling information available upon request.
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