ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Amid ongoing financial hardships, Annie Malone Family and Child Services announced Friday it was canceling the annual May Day parade for the second year in a row, but announced alternative plans.
The organization said this year, there would be a May Day Festival instead, on May 17 at a location to be announced later.
“A traditional parade this year would have required dramatically increasing costs,” said board member Steven Harmon. “Instead, we choose a model that preserves the spirit of May Day.”
Leaders called the move the financially responsible thing to do.
“The May Day Festival represents resilience, it represents adaptability, and it represents responsible leadership,” said CEO Keisha Lee.
The financial issues the organization faces come from multiple fronts.
Leaders Friday pointed to significant funding cuts for non-profits as a major strain.
“These cuts directly impact services for children in crisis, families navigating trauma, youth in our economic mobility programs and prevention programs in schools,” board member William Harris, Jr. said.
Leaders said the cuts have real-life consequences for children and families in the Metro.
The Annie Malone Mansion, a historic building in the city where the organization has its offices, is also in need of major repairs. The cold temperatures earlier in the winter caused pipes to burst in the 104-year-old building.
Lee said the damage was “catastrophic” and left the building severely damaged. Lee said the group “lost everything” and has had to move services to other buildings, which is an additional cost.
“Annie Malone has been serving the community for over a century. And we have survived wars, recessions and disasters, and we will survive this,” Lee said.
The group is set to kick off a capital project fundraiser on Sunday on the campus of St. Louis University. You can help the non-profit by clicking here.
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