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Nationwide Partnership Unveils Donate Life Float Destined for 2007 Rose Parade; ‘Giving From The Heart’ Spotlights Organ, Tissue, and Blood Donors Who Exemplify Parade Theme, ‘Our Good Nature’ BOSTON, MA, June 19, 2006 – A nationwide partnership of organizations, united to inspire all people to “Donate Life” through organ, tissue and blood donation, unveiled its 2007 Rose Parade® float design today at the Donate Life America (formerly Coalition on Donation) Spring 2006 Workshop in Boston. The 2007 Donate Life Rose Parade float, themed Giving From The Heart, will mark the fourth appearance of the donation and transplant community in the Parade, which attracts more than 30 million viewers globally. The float’s design highlights 22 riders – each of whom has donated organs, tissue and blood so that others might live – who are seen among beautiful presents, spectacular bouquets and a red ribbon representing gifts of life. Like the organizations that participate in the float creation and development, the riders will hail from communities throughout the nation. The Donate Life float adds an emotional dimension to the 2007 Rose Parade theme, Our Good Nature. “There is no greater example of Our Good Nature and compassion for others than the gifts of organ, tissue and blood donation,” said Bryan Stewart, chairman of the Donate Life Rose Parade Float organizing committee and director of communications for OneLegacy. “Generous donor families look beyond the loss of their loved one to give life to another, while living donors give part of themselves to help others in need. A concern and love for others that allows such a profound gift to be offered comes from the very core of our being – from the heart.” Reinforcing the emotional aspect of donation is the return of the Donate Life float’s Family Circle rose dedication program, which allows any individual, family or organization touched by donation and transplantation to dedicate a rose on the Donate Life float. Dedicated roses will be placed in the heart-shaped “Family Circle Garden” at the front of Giving From The Heart. “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. More than 92,000 Americans currently await life-saving organ transplants, with 17 people dying each day due to the shortage of donated organs. Every year hundreds of thousands of people need donated tissue to prevent or cure blindness, heal burns or save limbs, and one out of three people will need donated blood in their lifetime. “The Rose Parade offers a unique setting to inspire people to make the commitment to donate life and discuss organ and tissue donation with their families,” said David Bosch, president of Donate Life America and director of communications for Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network in Illinois. Award-winning float builder Phoenix Decorating Co. will construct the float from a design by Dave Pittman. The Donate Life float is laden with symbolism: the eight presents represent the lives that can be saved by a single organ donor; fifty bouquets signify the lives that can be saved or enhanced by a single tissue donor; and the red ribbon’s three loops represent the lives that can be touched through a single blood donation. In addition, the tags adorning the presents are written in English, Spanish and Chinese. “We are proud to have designed a float that conveys the beauty of the gift of life,” said Bill Lofthouse, founder of Phoenix Decorating. “We're delighted to contribute to the empowering message of the Donate Life float, whose volunteers bring tremendous passion and meaning to the parade each and every year.” Coordinated by Donate Life America 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 a top-level benefactor is Astellas Pharma US, Inc., sponsor of five float riders and the volunteer decorating team for a second consecutive year. The 118th Rose Parade will take place on Monday, January 1, 2007 at 8:00 am PST featuring spirited marching bands from throughout the world, majestic floral floats and high-stepping equestrian units. For information call Rivian Bell, JDI Communications, (213) 612-4927 or Bryan Stewart, (213) 401-1226. |