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2006 Donate Life Rose Parade® Float Features 'Life Transformed' by Organ and Tissue Donation; Float to Feature 23 Float Riders ‘Magically’ Transformed by Gift of Life LOS ANGELES, CA, June 13, 2005 – A nationwide partnership of organizations, united to inspire all people to “Donate Life” through organ and tissue donation, unveiled its 2006 Rose Parade® float design today at the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) annual meeting in Los Angeles. The 2006 Donate Life Rose Parade float, themed Life Transformed, will mark the third appearance of organ donors, donor family members and transplant recipients in America’s New Year Celebration.® The float’s 22 riders—whose lives, families and communities have undergone a physical, emotional and spiritual transformation through being touched by organ and tissue donation—will be surrounded by new life that has sprung forth from the shelter of a fallen tree. The riders will hail from communities throughout the nation, including California, Illinois, New York, Ohio and Oklahoma. The Donate Life float adds an emotional dimension to the Tournament of Roses Parade theme, It’s Magical. “A life touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation is a life transformed,” said Bryan Stewart, chairman of the Donate Life Rose Parade Float organizing committee and director of communications for OneLegacy. “While organ and tissue transplantation helps hundreds of thousands of people regain their health each year, giving and receiving the gift of life has a profound—many would say magical—impact on the lives, families and communities it touches.” Reinforcing the emotional aspect of donation is the debut of the Donate Life Float Family Circle, a program which invites any family or individual who has been touched by donation and transplantation to dedicate a rose on the Donate Life float. Dedicated roses will be placed in the “Family Circle Garden” at the front of Life Transformed. “The Family Circle was inspired by my desire to give families across the country an opportunity to honor their loved ones and to participate in the magical Donate Life Float experience,” said Laurie Wolowic, donor sister and founder of the program. “I invite all those touched by donation to join me in this celebration of life by dedicating a rose in honor of their loved ones.” Nearly 90,000 Americans currently await organ transplants, while every year hundreds of thousands of people need donated tissue to prevent or cure blindness, heal burns or save limbs. Each day, 17 people die awaiting a life-saving organ transplant. “The Rose Parade offers a unique setting to inspire people to make the commitment to donate life. We hope it will encourage them to discuss organ and tissue donation with their families, and sign up to be donors in states with donor registries,” said David Bosch, president of the Coalition on Donation and director of communications for Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network in Illinois. Award-winning float builder Phoenix Decorating Co. designed the new float. “We're delighted to again join this special community as a contributing partner of the Donate Life float,” said Bill Lofthouse, Founder and CEO of Phoenix Decorating. “As a parade participant, the donation and transplantation community and their hundreds of volunteers bring tremendous energy and meaning to the parade as they share their inspiring stories of courage and compassion in the face of adversity.” Spearheaded by Coalition on Donation member OneLegacy, the Donate Life Rose Parade float is supported by dozens of official partners from across the nation, including organ and tissue recovery organizations, for-profit contributors, transplant centers and transplant recipient organizations. Joining OneLegacy as top-level benefactors are Astellas Pharma US, Inc. and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). The 117th Rose Parade, themed It’s Magical, will take place on Monday, January 2, 2006 at 8:00am PST featuring spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, majestic floral floats and high-stepping equestrian units. For information call Rivian Bell, JDI Communications, (213) 612-4927 or Bryan Stewart, (213) 401-1226. |