06/28/2026
What an incredible Pride. ❤️🏳️🌈
On behalf of all of us at SHIELDS Foundation, thank you.
A special thank you to my dear friend Luján and everyone at Rooted in Lewis County for creating a space where our community can gather, celebrate, and simply be. Thank you to our entire SHIELDS Foundation Board, every volunteer who staffed our SHIELDS Foundation and Zap Master tables, and everyone who stayed until the very end to help clean up. Events like this only happen because so many people quietly step in and give their time, energy, and hearts.
This year was something truly special. Nearly 1,500 people came through the event. We met new entertainers, new vendors, new community organizations, and so many new friends. One of my favorite moments was meeting at least ten people who told me this was the very first Pride they had ever attended. To hear that Lewis County Pride was the first place they truly felt safe enough to be themselves is something I’ll carry with me for a very long time.
That is why we do this.
Together, we are building a future of opportunity. A future where SHIELDS Foundation continues to grow, not only ROOTED in Lewis County, but rooted in Pride itself. A future with a strong foundation, shielded from hate and surrounded by love, where every person knows they belong.
Thank you for believing in this mission. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for helping us build something bigger than ourselves.
And always remember…
Love is love is love is love. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
-Steph