Bucket brigade sweeps city to haul in Batson donations
Hal's St. Paddy's Parade is a family tradition for Brandi Young.
She brings along husband Alan Young in his "Star Wars" stormtrooper garb, and along with them come their five children and an assortment of friends, each wearing a green City Sweep volunteer T-shirt.
The whole Young crew plus a few others march every year for their second family, Batson Children's Hospital. The City Sweep is part of the efforts for the state's only children's hospital in an event that puts the "fun" in fundraising.
A nurse on Batson's second floor, Young said she and her family do their part because the money raised through float entries, 5K run registration and City Sweep activities, including collecting donations from paradegoers and selling T-shirts and Mardi Gras beads, stays right here in Mississippi.
"You hope you never need Batson Children's Hospital for your own child," she said, "but you want to have it ready if you do."
Some 70 City Sweep volunteers were out and about, mixing with the parade's audience and collecting donations from smiling children and generous adults. The largest donation of the day was thought to be $45 dropped into a canvas collection bag.
"I gave just because I love children," said Janet Richardson, a new resident of Morton who contributed to the cause.
Scott Steele loves kids, too. The US 96.3 on-air personality who earlier this month broadcast from the Batson lobby during Mississippi Miracles Radiothon was out helping the hospital again, this time with his son, Colby.
"There's not enough hours in the day to do things for Batson Children's Hospital," he said.
This year's parade, renamed for founder Malcolm White's late brother, restaurateur Hal White, rolled despite cloudy skies, blustery weather and temperatures in the 50s.
"Who else would get out in this cold to help the children?" laughed Gay Brown, wife of hospital volunteer Willie Brown of Vaughan.
A supporter of Batson Children's Hospital for decades, the mashup of St. Patrick's Day and a Mardi Gras parade raised more than $25,000 for the hospital in 2015, a year when a downpour threatened to dampen the fun.
Numbers for 2016 are still being tallied, but the event is expected to have brought in about $30,000.
Through the years, the annual festival, one of the nation's largest St. Patrick's Day parades, has raised more than $400,000 for the state's only children's hospital.
"The annual St. Paddy's Parade & Festival is one of our favorite events each year," said Jen Hospodor, manager of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and Community Based Fundraising at UMMC's Office of Development. "Every event from the 5K to the City Sweep to the concert that night is filled with camaraderie, fun and pride for our city. It is one of the longest-running traditions of fundraising for Batson Children's Hospital and we enjoy being a part of it."
Guy Giesecke, CEO of Children's of Mississippi, has also participated in the City Sweep over the years.
"People are really supportive and want to give once they know the money supports Batson Children's Hospital," he said. "What our City Sweep volunteers do makes a big difference. It is really neat to see so many people helping our hospital, and we appreciate those who march and those who donate."
Gina Burton knows how much a difference supporting the hospital makes. She and daughter Kambree drove more than an hour from their home in Mize to participate as City Sweep volunteers.
Kambree, now a cheerleader and active high school student, rode through the parade on a hoverboard. The family has participated in the event for four years.
"Anything we can do, we'll do," Gina Burton said. "We're just thankful."
