Donate Life Float to Honor Living Legacies of 81 Organ, Eye and Tissue Donors in 2014 Rose Parade®

As long ago as I can remember one of the favorite things I like to do on New Year's Day is watch the Rose Parade and since my lung transplant I've made it a point to watch for the Donate Life Float. The parade is covered by all major TV networks and I especially like the coverage that KTLA, Los Angeles provides starting much earlier than the networks. Most TV providers run it as a super station. They get up close with each float and provide great descriptions. 2014 will be the 125th anniversary of the parade and include 45 floats.

Memorial "Floragraph" Portraits Represent 34 States, Korea and Taiwan; Dozens of Families to Apply Finishing Touches to Portraits at Local Events

"For many of their families, this is a unique opportunity to see their loved one shine before millions of people worldwide and to gain special recognition for their gifts of life and hope."

From Massachusetts to Hawaii and across the Pacific to Korea and Taiwan, the families of 81 organ, eye and tissue donors will complete memorial "floragraph" portraits of their loved ones that will "Light Up the World" as beacons of hope in the 2014 Rose Parade. Each honored individual is remembered by their generosity, compassion, and lives saved and healed through donations after death. The floragraphs will grace the lanterns of light that illuminate 30 float riders – all transplant recipients – and the 12 living donors who will accompany them on foot along the five-mile route seen by more than 40 million viewers nationwide.

"The donors' families and dozens of volunteers will decorate the portraits with grains, flowers, seeds, spices and other organic materials," said Bryan Stewart, chairman of the Donate Life float committee and vice president of communications at OneLegacy, the nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization serving the greater Los Angeles area. "For many of their families, this is a unique opportunity to see their loved one shine before millions of people worldwide and to gain special recognition for their gifts of life and hope."

Read the Rose Parade Donate Life Float press release.

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