OUR ORGANIZATION
Learn more about our history, what we support, and how you can participate.
OUR HISTORY
The Minneapolis St. Patrick's Day Association, or MSPDA, was founded in 1969 by Sean and Judith Clerkin. With their active participation in the community and desire to celebrate Minnesota's Irish-American heritage, the Clerkins decided to begin a tradition of supporting the diabetic community by donating to the American Diabetes Association, raising money through St. Patrick's Day parade events and contests.
GIVING BACK
Besides donating 100% of proceedings to the American Diabetes Association, MSPDA raises money for Camp Needlepoint, a summer camp for children living with diabetes. Members of the MSPDA community, from Ms. Blarney to friends of the association, sell buttons and paper shamrocks to raise funds for the children at camp. MSPDA also hosts a meat raffle every other Friday at the VFW #230 in Columbia Heights! Check out the Events page to see our future fundraising events!
PARTICIPATION
Promotion of MSPDA is done through various parade events and contests. These include:
- The Ms. Blarney coronation
- The Wee Leprechauns contest
- Women's Christmas
- Honoring Irish-American community members
- Paper Shamrocks with friends of MSPDA
- Selling of MSPDA Buttons
- Meat raffle at VFW #230
2025 BUTTON
This year, we celebrate the life Brian Clerkin, who left us too soon. We continue to raise money for the American Diabetes Association in his honor.
COMMEMORATIVE BUTTONS
The first St. Patrick's Day Association button was created in 1970 to promote Irish heritage and raise money for The American Diabetes Association. For $5.00, you can buy our yearly button and bead design to help raise money for Camp Needlepoint. See our collection of button designs from 2009-2025 below!
VINTAGE BUTTONS
These are some of the first St. Patrick's Day Association button designs! See our collection of vintage buttons below!
