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Donate Life's Tenth Rose Parade® Float Entry Captures the Highs and Lows, Love and Courage of Our Journeys of the Heart LOS ANGELES, CA, June 18, 2012 -- Donate Life launched its tenth national Rose Parade campaign to save and heal lives with its most original float design to date: a continuous, looping path through a magical, heart-filled world representing the Journeys of the Heart experienced by those touched by organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. Donate Life's unique Rose Parade float entry will transport 30 riders whose own journeys as transplant recipients, living donors and family members of deceased organ, eye and tissue donors encompass the highs and lows that life has to offer. The float's 200-foot-long, heart-shaped pathway is lined with 72 memorial "floragraph" portraits of deceased donors who are remembered every step of the way. "Our tenth anniversary and the parade theme 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!™' inspired us to create a design as unique and dramatic as the journeys experienced by our community", said Bryan Stewart, chairman of the Donate Life Rose Parade Float Committee and vice president of communications at OneLegacy, the nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization serving the greater Los Angeles area. "The places we go range from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, and every point in between. On New Year's Day 2013, we will invite viewers by the tens of millions to take a journey with us and consider organ, eye and tissue donation." The float's collection of joyful hearts representing the new life made possible by transplantation is grounded by a reverent dedication garden filled with roses bearing personal messages honoring those who make the gift of life possible. The journey peaks with intertwined red and purple hearts representing the love and courage that define humanity at its best. Since its debut on New Year's Day 2004, the Donate Life Rose Parade float has become the world's most visible campaign to inspire people to become organ, eye, and tissue donors. The concept originated with lung recipient Gary Foxen of Orange, Calif., who wanted to express gratitude to donors who make transplantation possible. Now, in addition to the 40 million viewers who view the Rose Parade in the stands and on TV, dozens of events are held in cities and towns around the country to put the finishing touches on floragraph portraits and present dedicated roses to donor families. This last year alone, the Donate Life float generated more than 700 media stories nationwide. The 2012 Donate Life float is built by Phoenix Decorating Co. from a design by Dave Pittman and is coordinated by Donate Life America member OneLegacy. The Donate Life float campaign is supported by more than 120 official sponsorsfrom coast to coast, including organ and tissue recovery organizations, tissue banks, state donor registries, transplant centers, hospitals, funeral homes and affiliated organizations. Joining OneLegacy as top-level benefactors are the Dignity Memorial® network, North America's largest network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers; the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB); Donate Life America; and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and the National Donor Memorial. To date all 30 float riders and 63 of 72 floragraphs have been sponsored. All Donate Life float sponsors encourage parade viewers to join the 105 million registered donors in America so that everyone whose life depends on a transplant may receive one. Registrations can be made through state registries or at www.DonateLifeAmerica.org. Further information about the Donate Life float can be found at www.donatelifefloat.org. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade presented by Honda, Rose Bowl Game® presented by VIZIO and various associated events. The 124th Rose Parade presented by Honda, themed "Oh, the Places You'll Go!™," will take place Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands. Following the parade, the 99th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO will kick off at 2:10 p.m. and feature an exciting match-up between two of the top collegiate football teams in the nation. For additional information on the Tournament of Roses please visit the official website at www.tournamentofroses.com. For information call Rivian Bell, JDI Communications, (213) 612-4927 or Bryan Stewart, (213) 229-5650. |