GLOVERSVILLE – Nathan Littauer Hospital will be recognized once again with a rose on the Donate Life Float in the 126th annual Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. Nathan Littauer partners with the Center for Donation & Transplant (CDT) to facilitate life-saving organ and tissue donation. The rose also recognizes Littauer’s support for organ donation through the Donate Life Flag Program.  In 2015, a flag will be flown at the hospital following every organ and tissue donation case, which will then be given to the donors’ families in honor of their loved one.

This year’s float features “The Never-Ending Story,” a special float developed by the national Donate Life America organization, will appear in the parade to commemorate organ donation. It includes butterflies emerging from storybooks to symbolize the enduring power of organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. The float and its honored participants are the centerpiece of a national campaign leading up to the 2015 Rose Parade, whose theme this year is “Inspiring Stories.”

“Every donation of organs, eyes and tissue begins an inspiring story that lives on forever,” said Bryan Stewart, chairman of the Donate Life Rose Parade Float Committee. “In their passing, deceased donors open up a world of health, sight and mobility to people in need.”

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 campaign began as an idea expressed in a letter by lung recipient Gary Foxen of Orange, Calif., who wanted to show gratitude to donors who make life-saving transplants possible.

Now in its 12th year, the float entry is celebrated at hundreds of events nationwide where families put the finishing touches on florograph (a picture of the donor made out of plants/flowers) portraits and donation and transplant professionals present dedicated roses to donor families, living donors and community partners who play a role in making donation possible. The florograph will be on display at the news conference.

Donation experts say that one person can save up to eight lives through the donation of vital organs – heart, kidney, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine – and help 50 people or more who need corneas to see, skin to heal from burns, and bones and connective tissue for common knee, back and dental surgeries.

In addition, approximately 6,000 lives per year are saved by living kidney and liver donors.

Anyone can sign up when renewing a driver’s license or state identification, or by visiting www.DonateLifeAmerica.org.

The 126th parade will took place on Thursday, Jan. 1, featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands.  Following the parade was the 101st Rose Bowl Game.

(CBS News website)
Organ and tissue recipients and other volunteers began decorating the 12th Donate Life float in Pasadena on New Year’s Day. Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home was represented with the float.