The Heart Behind Christmas in the Park: A Tribute to SM Wright

I’d be remiss if the holiday season passed me by without celebrating a truly remarkable individual, SM Wright. When I first thought up the concept for this brand several months ago, I grew excited for the day that I’d get to interview him. Suffice it to say, this one’s been a long time comin’.

If you know him, you’ll likely agree that no one encompasses the spirit of giving quite like SM Wright. In 1998, he organized a foundation to honor the legacy of his dad, Reverend SM Wright. A Baptist Minister and Civil Rights Leader, Wright used his influence in the church to advocate for racial equality, community resilience, and service. It was clear through talking with SM, that his Dad made a lasting impression on his community, and led with immeasurable grace and fortitude.

As Co-Founder, President, and CEO of the SM Wright Foundation, SM continues his dad’s legacy by addressing systemic barriers that linger in Southern Dallas. He does this through hunger relief programs, education support, community assistance, and much, much more. Included in that fourth bucket (of much, much more) is the foundation’s flagship community event, Christmas in the Park.

This event is the culmination of several community leaders coming together with a simple mission: to bring some holiday cheer to families that need it most. More than volunteers distributing Christmas gifts (and, for the record, no one has a better pulse on the hottest new toys hitting the market than SM), Christmas in the Park supports families in a way that lasts– mattresses, work attire, and home essentials are just a few of the things that set these families up for a year of greater comfort and confidence, both in and outside of their homes.

When asked about the origin story of Christmas in the Park, SM said the idea was born after his dad passed away from cancer in 1994. Suddenly, “holidays were not so joyous.” Reverend Wright’s passing took a hit on his community, the absence of his leadership felt by everyone he knew. 

I never quite grasped just how impactful a presence Reverend Wright was until hearing a bit more about him from SM and reading anecdotes from people who knew him personally. Reverend Wright was a giver in all aspects of the word: after returning from the US Army, he began his ministerial career as the pastor of the People’s Missionary Baptist Church in South Dallas. He presided over about 2,000 devoted members and held the role for 37 years until his passing. In the mid-to-late 1960s, as urban race riots began spreading throughout America’s metropolitan hubs, Wright was committed to keeping Dallas from joining the list of cities to experience a full-scale civil disturbance. The Dallas Morning News sung his praises after the fact, saying “Mr. Wright and other members of the IMA (Interdenominational Ministers' Alliance) have once again demonstrated the high caliber of constructive leadership that has benefited the entire Dallas community.” He played a vital role in helping desegregate DISD schools in the 70s and left a lasting impression on the South Dallas chapter of NAACP. Wright’s funeral was a testament to how adored he was. The church packed with over 1,000 mourners and 50 slated speakers, it’s hard to deny just how many lives he touched.

Inspired by his dad, SM organized the foundation in 1998. In the beginning, he sought to “sit, listen, and take notes from those who’ve been successful in their fields…I’ll never forget when we talked to John Stimmons and Charles Cullum about our interest in doing philanthropy work in South Dallas,” he noted. He credits these early meetings with giving him the confidence to develop a strategy that took his vision to new heights. He started with a food center serving families in South Dallas. “The church served as the home base, operating on a ‘friend‑refers‑a‑friend’ model” that allowed them to grow and reach even more people through additional programs.

Along with his brother Calvin, SM launched Christmas in the Park in 1988. He recalls those early years as “all piling into a car and heading to Walmart and Target,” where they bought toys to distribute from their church to about 200 children. As word spread, so did the event’s impact—today, it takes place at Fair Park and serves more than 32,000 individuals across DFW.

SM embraced the event’s rapid growth with curiosity and commitment. “I wanted to learn where the toys were made, so I learned the whole infrastructure of the industry top to bottom,” he explains. Talk about a “high caliber of constructive leadership,” SM’s attention to detail and approach have helped shape Christmas in the Park into the event it is today. When I asked how he’s maintained such steadfast loyalty to the mission over so many years, he credited his faith: “It’s been with me since before my father passed, after his passing, and ever since.”

Christmas in the Park has become a beloved annual tradition for so many. And that’s all thanks to the the Wright family. SM embodies effective, purpose-driven leadership, and I aspire to be a little more like him every day. Fueled by his faith and his commitment to bettering his community, he never seeks praise—he simply shows up and puts in the work. He works harder than most anyone, and likely doesn’t hear it enough, but THANK YOU, SM, for all that you do.

I wish you could fully see the impact you have on everyone who crosses your path, my family included. So, if you’ll let me, I’d like to close with notes of gratitude from a few of your biggest fans:

“SM is one of the most impactful change makers in the city of Dallas. He’s an immediate friend to everyone he meets. The passion and spirit he puts into everything he does, whether it be his relationships or work, is worth striving for.” - Lili

“SM is unlike anyone I know. He sees the good in everyone from the start and emanates joy. His laugh is contagious, his spirit endlessly optimistic, and he treats everyone like family. I’ve often wondered how someone becomes so consistently happy and giving, but the more time I spend with him, the more I realize he’s always been that way. He was born to lead.” - Charlotte

“The Wright Family holds a legacy of leadership, heart, and hope.  Their ministry has made a direct positive impact on literally thousands of lives.” - Nita

“Every year at Christmas in the Park, I’m reminded all over again of the kind of leader SM is. Even with thousands of people coming and going, he stays calm, grounded, and present. I’ll never understand how he does it.” - Annabel

 “SM has inspired thousands of people to be more generous and to give their time to people in the community. He is truly one of the great Dallas leaders and a hero to me and many more.” - Cullum 

 

Peace & love,

Charlotte