HISTORY

 

While watching the 1979 Pasadena Rose Parade on Television, Jack Gilbert, who was President of the Wilshire Rotary Club, in Los Angeles, California, and subsequently chairman of the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee, had an idea. Rotary would be celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 1980. Jack believed that by entering a float in the 1980 New Year's Day Rose Parade, Rotary could communicate its message, "Service Above Self" to millions of people worldwide. Jack shared his vision with other Rotarians, who supported the idea. Seven Governors in Southern California agreed to underwrite the cost of the float and make up any shortfall not covered by Club contributions. Fortunately, the Clubs contributed $35,000 which covered the full cost of he original float.

 

This first Tournament of Roses experience lead to the formation of the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee which now receives contributions each year from approximately 8 Rotary Districts and an additional 700 Individual Rotary Clubs to fund the float. The Committee has entered a float every year since 1980.

 

The Rose Parade is seen by an estimated U.S. audience of 39 million people and an estimated international audience of millions more in over 220 territories. The Pasadena Police Department estimates that approximately 700,000 spectators view the Rose Parade in person. Another 160,000 visit the Parade Float Decorating Sites and/or the Post Parade Float Viewing Area where the floats are on display for two days.

 

2014

 

The float theme was "Engage Rotary, Change Lives", and featured a candy cane crossing leading onto a bridge of candy cane railroad tracks.  Atop of those tracks was the float's delicious centerpiece: a larger-than-life train made of sweets. Rotary Club volunteers were the “Float Participants” on our 2014 float - some rode the whimsical candy train and several more walked alongside the float. The riders included Ron D. Burton, Rotary International President and Jetta, Deborah Sabin, the oldest daughter of Sylvia Tregillus Sabin and Albert Sabin, M.D. developer of the Oral Polio Vaccine and Peter L. Salk, MD, the oldest son of Jonas Salk who, together with his team at the University of Pittsburgh, developed the first successful polio vaccine, which was introduced in 1955.

 

2010

 

Theme: "Service Above the Rest". Winner of the Tournament Volunteers' Trophy for best floral design of theme 35 feet or under The float included an oversized fuzzy teddy bear dressed in a doctor's white coat and wearing a reflector and a stethoscope to remind the world of Rotary's commitment to eradicating polio worldwide. the bear also held a bouquet of roses to represent the Rotary's commitment to service and care since its founding in 1905. The teddy bear was created with corn silk, palm fiber and cordom puffs, with facial highlights of everlasting powdered ride, farina and nori seaweed. The doctor's lab coat was made of finely ground white rice with coconut lapels and the stethoscope was constructed with silverleaf, everlasting and poppy seed.

 

2005

 

The theme, "Family Tree - A Century of Service", and design were selected to recognize the service of the Rotary family throughout the world during the past 100 years as Rotary International celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005 and begins its second century of service to the world community.  The 2005 Tournament of Roses Parade theme was Celebrate Family.

 

The float presented a large tree amidst an active park setting, representing Rotary’s extensive family tree. Bird houses and large butterflies ornament the tree, which was surrounded by a lush garden featuring two dogs at play. The setting was created using real grass sod, roses, carnations, mums, lilies and orchids, with Yellow Oncidium orchids in the tree. Orange fluff, which comes from the seed pod of the Bird of Paradise, comprised the orange fir on the wings of the monarch butterflies.

 

1997

 

The float titled "Caring for the World's Children" provided an opportunity to reveal the shining achievements of the PolioPlus campaign.  The float featured three medical officers on three different continents, each surrounded by children who have been immunized against polio and other childhood diseases.  Colorful flowers, animals, vegetation and monuments depicted the different cultures were immunization efforts have been carried out.