UM Shore Regional Health Joins the 2019 Donate Life Rose Bowl Parade Float to Highlight the Power of Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation

Easton, Md. – University of Maryland Shore Regional Health joins The Living Legacy Foundation (The LLF) in dedicating a rose for the Rose Parade Donate Life float to honor the generous patients and their families who have given the gifts of life and hope as organ, eye, or tissue donors or donors in spirit. The rose dedicated by UM SRH president and CEO Ken Kozel will accompany several roses dedicated by The LLF as part of the Donate Life float in the Rose Bowl Parade set for January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. Celebrating its 16th Anniversary, the Donate Life float is part of a national initiative to help share the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation with millions of people, who either visit Pasadena or tune in to watch the Rose Parade every New Year.

“With nearly 115,000 people currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, we are grateful to be a part of this year’s Donate Life float, to bring worldwide attention to the need for more people to register as donors, and by doing so, help make an impact in the lives of many,” said Kozel. “We look forward to showcasing the stories of our participants at Shore Regional Health and we hope to inspire others to register and get involved, after hearing their remarkable stories of donation.”

The theme for the 130th Rose Parade is The Melody of Life, which celebrates music, the universal language. Two-time organ recipient and the Tournament of Roses’ first African-American president, Gerald Freeny, envisioned the parade’s theme. “Music has the power to not only bring us together, but take us back to memories and moments as nothing else can,” said Freeny. “Rhythm, melody, harmony and color all come together to create the soundtrack that defines our lives.”

With this in mind, the 2019 Donate Life float’s theme, Rhythm of the Heart, depicts an exciting design that invites parade audiences to experience the music of Africa, in a vibrant, colorful float that features musical instruments and cultural artifacts that represent different African countries and cultures.

In Maryland, about 3,400 people are waiting for a life-saving transplant. UM Shore Regional Health supports The Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland in its mission to facilitate donation and transplantation and to educate the public about the life-saving power of donation and transplantation.

As the world’s most visible campaign to inspire organ, eye and tissue donation, The Donate Life Rose Parade® float inspires viewers to help the over one million people in need of organ, eye or tissue transplants each year. Register today to become an organ, eye or tissue donor by visiting DonateLife.net

For more information about organ, eye, and tissue donation and to register as a donor, please visit www.donatelifemaryland.org or www.thellf.org.

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~ University of Maryland Shore Regional Health