2012 Donate Life Rose Parade Float
Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network is pleased to honor a local organ donor by placing their picture – actually a florograph - on the Donate Life Float in the Rose Parade which will be held on Monday, January 2, 2012 in Pasedena, CA. Scott Conrad, who gave the Gift of Life on March 17, 2010 will be honored by having his florograph on this year’s float.
Through their life-changing experiences, the families of organ and tissue donors, living donors, and recipients of life-saving transplants know intimately the preciousness of time. Transplant recipients, living donors, and family members of deceased donors will join together to honor the preciousness of …One More Day on the ninth Donate Life Rose Parade float entry.
Artist Design of 2012 Donate Life Rose Parade Float
“This year’s Donate Life’s float theme is a deeply emotional coda to the 2012 Rose Parade theme, Just Imagine…” said Rob Kochik, Executive Director of Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network. “The opportunity to live, or relive, a precious moment in time inspires us to Just Imagine…One More Day when donor families are reunited with loved ones, transplant recipients thrive, and living and registered donors step forward so that a life-saving transplant is available to everyone in need.”
The float, with a design inspired by floral clocks and clock towers from around the world, will carry up to 28 donor family members, living donors, and transplant recipients. Six enormous floral timepieces will be adorned with 64 memorial “floragraphs” (floral portraits) of deceased donors whose gifts gave life and time to so many. A rose dedication garden will honor more than 3,000 people worldwide; each rose will bear a vial with a personal message honoring a loved one. Anchoring the float is a 30-foot clock tower with a sun/moon dial reminding us to make each passing day count.
On March 13, 2010, Scott was taken to Rochester General Hospital after being found unresponsive and not breathing. The neurologist met with the family and explained Scott had no brain function and was not going to survive. Unfortunately, Scott’s death was due to a drug overdose.
Scott Conrad
“Our journey has not been an easy one, but we thank God for the opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives. We believe Scott is still with us. Because of his gift of life, two people are no longer dependent on dialysis, his heart beats for another and his liver has restored someone’s health. People may not remember when or how he died, but they will never forget what he did for others by donating his organs.”
Just as every day counts, so does every donation opportunity. “We hope that anyone who has not yet registered will be inspired by the Donate Life float to join the more than 100 million Americans who have checked ‘Yes’ for donation when applying for or renewing their driver’s license or identification card,” said Kochik. Enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry today.
Previous FLDRN Donate Life Float Honorees:
The Donate Life Rose Parade float has become the nation’s most visible campaign to inspire people to become organ, eye, and tissue donors. The concept originated with lung recipient Gary Foxen of Orange, Calif., who wanted to express gratitude to donors who make transplantation possible.
