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26 ‘Stars of Life’ Affected by Organ and Tissue Donation to Shine Aboard Donate Life Float in 2009 Rose Parade® LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 29, 2008 – For 26 people affected by organ and tissue donation, the chance of a lifetime approaches as they prepare for their starring roles as riders on the 2009 Donate Life Rose Parade Float, Stars of Life. Over the past five years, more than 100 donor family members, living donors, and transplant recipients have journeyed down Colorado Boulevard on the float that has brought the need for organ and tissue donation to international prominence as part of America’s New Year Celebration®, the Tournament of Roses Parade®. Ranging in age from 17 to 74 and hailing from 16 states, this year’s riders represent the heart of humanity: one gave his kidney to a fellow DMV employee he had never met; seven parents gave other children a chance to live by donating their sons’ and daughters’ organs; one donated the tissue of her husband after he lost his life protecting a presidential candidate; and one 24-year-old New Yorker will honor the Nebraska donor whose liver saved her life as a 14-month-old. While each story may be different in fact, they share a single theme: hope. Hope for a brighter future or a new life. Hope that the precious gifts of organs, eyes, and tissue will help others to breathe, walk, run, hug their children, or simply enjoy life. “With their stories of hope in the face of adversity, our float riders will inspire people across the country to be Stars of Life by signing up on their state organ and tissue donor registry,” said Bryan Stewart, chairman of the Donate Life float committee and vice president of communications at OneLegacy, the nonprofit organ and tissue recovery agency serving the greater Los Angeles area. “The riders selected for this year’s float are stars in their communities, and we take our hats off to their lives of courage, compassion and generosity.” Among those chosen to ride under the shower of stars that give the Donate Life float its unique appeal is Lily Allen of East Syracuse, N.Y. As an infant, Lily suffered from liver tumors that were suffocating her other organs. Her dramatic recovery following an experimental liver transplant in 1984 has made her a nationally recognized case study for a quarter-century. Now 25 years old and recently married, Lily will be joined at the Rose Parade by her donor family from Nebraska. Susan McVey Dillon of Downingtown, Pa. is the mother of Michael McVey, who became the first donation after cardiac death (DCD) donor in Philadelphia’s donor program after suffering a devastating head injury. Susan’s steadfast work thereafter helped to make DCD donations possible at many hospitals and organ recovery agencies across the country. Susan believes that “organ donation does not just save a person. It saves families.” Family kept Andrea Spraggins of Pontiac, Mich.; Mandy Trolinger of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; and Sergio Gomez of Huntington Beach, Calif., alive as each received kidneys from family members. Today, they give back to their communities as a transplant social worker, a physician assistant in training, and an educator. Three riders serve their communities as employees of their respective departments of transportation. Hooshang Torabi of Canoga Park, Calif., an Iranian-born member of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and husband of a kidney recipient, gave his own kidney to a fellow DMV employee, Gaston Gonzalez of San Dimas, Calif. In Scottsdale, Ariz., Denice Russell is able to fulfill her job as a customer service representative for the Arizona Dept. of Transportation Motor Vehicles Division thanks to a donated kidney. When Theresa Lozada of Plano, Tex., gave her husband Victor’s tissue to heal up to 50 people, she turned a national tragedy into an opportunity for Victor to live on and “give someone else a second chance.” Police officer Victor Lozada lost his life in a motorcycle accident while protecting Sen. Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign last February. “The children and I feel it is an honor for me to be on the Donate Life Float in the Rose Parade and be their dad’s voice,” Theresa said. “We want to tell others that it’s okay to donate – that there are so many ways you can help at the end of your life.” More than 28,000 lives are saved each year in the U.S. through the gift of organ donation, giving hope to the nearly 100,000 awaiting a life-saving organ transplant. In addition, every year hundreds of thousands of people need donated corneas and tissue to prevent or cure blindness, heal burns or save limbs. Included in the Donate Life float’s “Stars of Life” are 38 gold stars with floragraphs – artistic portraits created with floral materials – depicting loved ones whose donations of organs, corneas and/or tissue saved and healed those in need. Families of the donors depicted in the floragraphs will journey cross-country to Pasadena in the weeks leading up to the Parade to decorate the portraits of their loved ones. Dozens of white stars represent those among us who have been touched by donation, while four transparent stars will symbolize those in need of donated organs, corneas and tissue. The large orange-yellow stars at the front of the float will carry more than 1,000 roses dedicated through the Family Circle program, with each carrying a personal message of love, gratitude and hope to a donor, recipient or candidate in need of a transplant. Last year, dedicated roses came from 50 states and 21 countries. Coordinated by Donate Life America member OneLegacy, the Donate Life Rose Parade float is supported by 60 official partners from across the nation, including organ and tissue recovery organizations, tissue banks, state donor registries, transplant centers and affiliated organizations. Joining OneLegacy as top-level benefactors are Astellas Pharma US, Inc., a fourth-year sponsor of five float riders through the “Ride of a Lifetime” contest and supporter of 1,000 volunteer decorators; the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB); Donate Life America; the Family Circle Rose Dedication Program; and UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) and National Donor Memorial. All float partners encourage parade viewers to save lives by registering in their states to be organ, eye and tissue donors and donating blood in their communities. The 120th Rose Parade themed Hats Off To Entertainment will take place Thurs., Jan. 1, 2009, at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands showcasing the best in entertainment. Following the Rose Parade, at 2 p.m. (PST), the 95th Rose Bowl Game® will feature an exciting match-up between two championship teams, once again showcasing the best of collegiate football. For further information contact Rivian Bell, JDI Communications, (213) 612-4927 or Bryan Stewart, (213) 229-5650. |