Mission: The Krewe of the Druids (MKD) is committed to the physical and financial support of Five Horizons Health Services and the clients they serve, by helping to insure quality of life and self esteem and by serving as an advocate for access of care by or from appropriate agencies.
Vision: MKD aims to be the premier fund raising supporter for Five Horizons Health Services.
Goal: MKD seeks to increase public awareness, promote compassion and tolerance, and solicit increased public participation and support for Five Horizons and its clients.
A Brief History of The Mystic Krewe of the Druids
In 1991 several friends decided that something should be done to raise funds for the Emergency Assistance Fund at WAAO, a fund that provided WAAO clients financial assistance for medication, food, and other living expenses.
These friends formed the ‘’Quilting Bee’’, and in the winter of 1992 hosted a Mardi Gras party at Michael’s Lounge on Fat Tuesday. The event was a great success and the following year another party, ‘’Aladdin and the Arabian Nights’’ raised $5,000 for the emergency fund.
Early in 1993 the group reorganized and, in the age-old tradition of Mardi Gras itself, adopted the official name ‘’Mystic Krewe of the Druids’’. The name chosen highlights the group’s support for the Tuscaloosa area by honoring the city’s nickname, the ‘’Druid City’’. The first public event sponsored by the new Krewe was a reception in the fall of 1993 at The University of Alabama. Held in conjunction with the UA’s display of a portion of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the reception raised funds for WAAO and provided a method for friends and family members to officially present to the Quilt new panels for their loved ones.
With great support from the community and friends in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, as well as lots of hard work by the eighteen original Krewe members, MKD hosted the first annual Mardi Gras BAL Masque, or masked ball, at the Bryant Conference Center on January 22, 1994 with the theme “Around the World’’. Guests were able to travel from Brazil to Japan to Germany and back to our own Alabama without the need to leave Tuscaloosa, and with the added benefit of contributing toward the WAAO emergency fund. The following year, ball guests were treated to the Krewe’s own interpretation of various fairy tales in an evening called ‘’Once Upon a Time’’. In January of 1996 BAL Masque III was moved to the Bama Theatre in downtown Tuscaloosa and since then the Bama has hosted every successive Bal Masque.
Over the years the BAL Masque weekend has continued to grow to now include a lieutenants party, Captains party, 2 different after party locations and the ever popular Saturday brunch hosted by MKD Emeritus members. With attendance climbing each year we are fortunate to have reached maximum capacity over the past few years and reaching new milestones in our donation to Five Horizons (formerly West Alabama AIDS Outreach). With a $50,000 donation from BAL MASQUE XXIV, XXV, and XXVI, the Mystic Krewe of Druids have contributed more than half a million dollars to Five Horizons over the past 28 years.
MKD is officially a non-profit organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions to the Mystic Krewe of the Druids are tax deductible, as we are classified as a public charity, officially listed as The Krewe of Druids, Inc.
We cannot thank you enough for your support!
Mailing address:
The Mystic Krewe of Druids, Inc.
P.O. Box 1847
Tuscaloosa, Al 35403