Community Involvement

In addition to supporting the community by creating a Mardi Gras organization whose membership reflects its values of diversity and inclusion, the Krewe also aspired to establish a parade that would be collaboratively sponsored by the community, even those who could not attend our parade. Our projects and community partners change year-to-year, though our focus is always on our community. Every Muses event, whether it’s a Thirsty Thursday or parade day, is tied to a charitable cause and is an outreach opportunity.

Muses sponsors annual ride raffles among its members, auctions a ride to the public, and holds raffles of glittered shoes and other items at Muses social events all to benefit selected community partners. We have sponsored multiple drives to gather items for women in need. Our talented shoe artists donate decorated Muse shoes to area charities to enable them to auction the shoes to raise funds for their own events. During the COVID pandemic on the day of our canceled parade, our “Shoe Fairies” gifted hundreds of decorated Muse shoes to local health care workers to offer our gratitude and moral support through our Heels for Healers program. We have thrown annual mini-parades for residents of residential care facilities such as Lazarus House and St. Margaret’s Nursing Home and sponsor and staff children’s art tables at local art events and shoe-decorating workshops with children and elderly individuals.

Since its inception, Muses has raised over $326,000 for several local and national charities and non-profit organizations.