Young Dallas philanthropists and their family and friends gathered at the Old Parkland campus to find out who would take home the 2014 Good Works Under 40 Award. Sponsored by the Dallas Foundation and the Dallas Morning News, this prestigious award recognizes just what you might suspect: outstanding volunteers under the age of 40.

This year, there were five strong finalists; however, Sherrelle Evans, CPA and past chairman of the board of trustees of St. Philip’s School and Community Center, took home the top honor, along with an $8,000 check for St. Philip’s.

During her more than 13 years of service to St. Phillip’s, she has helped raise more than $6.8 million and double the size of its campus. Evans also played a key role in bringing in a federal tax credit financing program to the South Dallas/Fair Park area. She was invited to join the agency’s finance committee and was nominated as member of its board of trustees, where she became the youngest chairman of St. Phillip’s in 2009.

“It’s rare for someone so young to have made such a lasting, productive commitment to a nonprofit agency,” said Dallas Foundation president Mary Jalonick. “Sherrelle’s skills, leadership and passion have made her a great gift to St. Philips and an inspiration to the entire community.”

The remaining 2014 finalists received $3,000 each for their nonprofits:

• Kent Harraid, volunteer at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field
• Alice Laussade, who started the nonprofit Meat Fight Inc., which benefits the National MS Society
• Dustin Marshall, who was nominated by three nonprofits he serves: Reading Partners, Uplift Education and Social Venture Partners
• Katie Norris, founder of Fotolanthropy, a nonprofit that documents stories of people who have overcome adversity

In its fifth year, the Good Works Under 40 Award received 69 nominations, which were narrowed down to five by committee members. It is the goal of the Dallas Foundation to celebrate the volunteer efforts and achievements of younger Dallas citizens who are making a big difference in North Texas and beyond.