Bobby Hollis of Wray Automotive escorts the Kudzu Queens to the fountain in Five Points.

The Kudzu Queens, Columbia’s closest thing to royalty, made a rare yet memorable visit to the Five Points fountain last Thursday morning, June 9, to help dole out $40,000 in proceeds from the St. Pats Day in Five Points festival. The queens arrived in a convertible Volkswagen bug waiving and flirting to amused and confused passers by leaving a trail of green feathers and purple sequins down Harden Street.

The queens share a wild, redheaded look, the name Geraldine, and an occasional mimosa at the Gourmet Shop. But behind all the glitz, glamour, and feather boas are a group of successful business women dedicated to raising money for Midlands charities.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of such a joyous occasion,” said one of the Queen Geraldines. “We are always here and ready to help out our friends in the Five Points community, and are absolutely bubbling with excitement to be able to give so much money to our friends in the community…since after all, raising money for charity is what the Columbia Kudzu Queens are all about.”

The queens were not the only ones excited. St. Pat’s in Five Points chairman, Jack Van Loan said, “I’m grinning from ear to ear because of the success of this year’s festival and the ability to continue to give money to local charities. The Five Points Association is grateful for its many friends in the community who sponsored the festival and assured the continuance of a tradition that local Five Points businessmen started over two decades ago.”

“This money will be put to good use in our community providing programs we simply couldn’t have afforded otherwise,” said Eve Black, a representative from contribution recipient Sexual Trauma Services. “We are so grateful the St. Pat’s in Five Points committee works so hard to give money back to community groups like ours.”

Other contributions from $1,000 to $4,000 were given to A.C. Moore Elementary, Rosewood Elementary, Hand Middle School, Dreher High School, The Salvation Army, KOBAN, Federation Center for the Blind, SC 4–H Clubs, SC Hispanic Outreach, The Nurturing Center, Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association, Irish Children’s Summer Camp, Harvest Hope Food Bank, SisterCare, Inc., and SC HIV AIDS Council.

The St. Pat’s In Five Points Committee is already planning for next year’s festival to be held on March 18. The Kudzu Queens have vowed to return at that time because as another Geraldine put it, “We dig Five Points!”

Charities who received money from St. Pat’s in Five Points proceeds

Contributed by Ferrillo and Associates

Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association $4,000

SisterCare $4,000

Salvation Army $4,000

Irish Children’s Charity $4,000

Sexual Trauma Services $4,000

Federated Center of the Blind $2,500

KOBAN Columbia, Inc. $2,500

SC HIV/AIDS Council $2,200

SC 4H $2,200

Hispanic Outreach $2,200

Nurturing Center $2,200

Harvest Hope Food Bank $2,200

Dreher High School $1,000

Rosewood Elementary $1,000

A.C. Moore Elementary $1,000

Hand Middle School $1,000