ST. LOUIS — Officials with the Annie Malone organization announced their annual May Day Parade, Friday morning.
The parade is Sunday, May 19, in downtown St. Louis. 5 On Your Side is a media partner.
The event is sponsored by White Castle, Walmart, Midwest BankCentre, BJC, Harris Funeral Home and the St. Louis Development Center.
Through April 30, White Castle officials are asking customers to “round up at the register” for Annie Malone at 10 locations in the greater St. Louis area.
Affinia Healthcare President and CEO Dr. Kendra Holmes will serve as parade grand marshal. The parade theme, this year, is “Connecting Physical Health to Mental Health.”
Annie Malone CEO Keisha Lee said, “Mental health has always been like a taboo subject. Increasingly, athletes and celebrities are stepping forward to say it's time to take care of our mental health, and they are comfortable talking about it.”
Holmes said, “Unfortunately, in St. Louis, we have very terrible health disparities, primarily in the Black community. That’s why this is so important for us to focus. This is not just a party. It is a party, but it's a parade with a purpose.”
Organizers said the annual parade is the Annie Malone organization’s largest fund-raiser of the year.