Hal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival Raises Over $100,000 for Children's of Mississippi

June 20, 2023

A group of four women and one man hold a giant ceremonial check
THE Sweet Potato Queen, Jill Conner Browne (second from left) and parade founder Malcolm White (right) present a ceremonial check to representatives from Friends of Children's Hospital and Children's of Mississippi.

Hal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival, the city’s annual celebration of spring and Jackson’s culture and heritage, has once again shown its support for Children's of Mississippi by raising over $100,000 after event expenses for the state's only children's hospital and its life-saving medical care and treatment.

This year's festival, held on March 25, brought together thousands of people from all over the state and beyond to support a great cause in the City With Soul.

The festival and official after-party featured live music, food vendors, a children's festival, and three parades through the streets of downtown Jackson.

Children’s of Mississippi’s Run The Rainbow 5K, 10K, and half marathon on March 18th raised $79,927.88, and the Friends of Children’s organization raised $24,783 through its Doo Dah Day New Car Giveaway raffle with the Sweet Potato Queens, presented by Patty Peck Honda.

UMMC’s City Sweep volunteers helped lead the parade, handing out beads and collecting donations, which totaled $2,805. Several of the long-standing walking krewes fundraised their own significant amounts, including the Sweet Potato Queens, The Green Ladies, O’Tux Society, and Nugget League of Mayhem.

"We are thrilled to announce that we raised over $100,000 for Children's of Mississippi this year," said Malcolm White, founder of Hal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival. "The generosity of our supporters and sponsors neverceases to amaze me. We are so grateful for everyone who came out to have fun and support this hospital and the incredible care provided there."

The funds raised by the parade and festival will go directly towards the hospital's mission of providing the highest quality medical care to children in need. This includes funding for research, new technology and equipment, and support for families facing the challenges of caring for a sick child.

Hal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival has become one of the largest and most anticipated events and beloved traditions in Jackson. For more information on Hal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival and its support for Children's of Mississippi, visit halsstpaddysparade.com.

Donations can be made to the Hal's St. Paddy's Parade Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi year-round to support the mission of the event here.