Lawrence Journal-World opinion section

The organizers of Thursday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Lawrence know their audience.

The parade is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and wrap up no later than 2:30 p.m. to make sure the spectators on Massachusetts Street have time to find a television set before Kansas University’s opening game in the NCAA Tournament, scheduled for 3 p.m.

“I think with the game being at 3, everyone’s going to have the tendency to move a little quicker this year,” said Charlie Upton, co-chair of the event.

Like KU basketball, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a special Lawrence event. Organizers have been working for months not only to plan events but to raise money for this year’s beneficiary, The Shelter, Inc., which provides services for local families with a focus on children at risk. Judy Culley, director of development at The Shelter, and retired Douglas County District Judge Jean Shepherd will serve as grand marshals for this year’s parade.

According to its website, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee has donated more than $852,621 to local charities since the event was started in 1988. Last year, the parade committee donated $48,000 to three local organizations. For the last decade, proceeds have been divided among more than one charitable group, but, this year, the committee decided to focus solely on The Shelter.

The hard work of this group brings a joyful and enthusiastic event to downtown Lawrence every St. Patrick’s Day, and, the rest of the year, the money the committee raises has an ongoing impact on the community.

Between the parade and basketball, Thursday is bound to be an exciting day in Lawrence. We hope the mild, mostly sunny weather forecast holds true and that the luck of the Irish will shine both on the parade and the Jayhawks in Des Moines.