“Donors and recipients of organs, eyes, tissue and blood are the real ‘Stars of Life’”, 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. “Anyone can be a star and save lives by signing up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor on your state donor registry and by donating blood in your community.”

The Donate Life float adds a meaningful dimension to the 2009 Rose Parade theme, Hats Off To Entertainment. “Our hats go off to the real-life stars who make organ, eye, tissue and blood donation an inspiring story of courage, compassion, hope and renewal,” said David Fleming, Executive Director of Donate Life America. “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. One out of three people will need donated blood in their lifetime.”

Among the Donate Life float’s “Stars of Life” are 30 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 before the Parade to decorate the portraits of their loved ones. The large organge-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. White stars will represent those among us who have been touched by donation, while transparent stars will symbolize those in need of donated organs, corneas and tissue.

One year after guiding Donate Life to its first-ever award, the Special Judges’ Trophy for showmanship and dramatic impact, Phoenix Decorating Co. will construct an abstract float design by Dave Pittman. “We are proud to design a float that is as unique and beautiful as the gift of life itself,” said Bill Lofthouse, founder of Phoenix Decorating. “As the husband of a cornea donor, I am deeply moved to contribute to the life-affirming message of the Donate Life float, whose purpose and hundreds of dedicated volunteers bring tremendous passion and meaning to the parade each and every year.”

Coordinated by Donate Life America member OneLegacy, the Donate Life float is supported by nearly 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 and the 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 from throughout the world. 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.