Modest Rose Parade Float Captures Prize of Survival and New Purpose

The float that represented the city of Arcadia in Wednesday’s Tournament of Roses parade didn’t receive an official award.

But to members of Arcadia’s Tournament of Roses Assn., the modest pink, red and yellow-flowered float won for itself two prizes that may have been even more important: its long-term survival and a new purpose of being.

With declining membership rosters and a deficit of $20,000, a real danger existed that the privately funded association would not complete a float in time for the new year.

But thanks to a last-minute outpouring of community support and an offer of help from a San Gabriel Valley medical organization, Arcadians saw their 85th consecutive Rose Parade float Wednesday and have been assured they will continue to have a float in the parade.

In an unusual twist, it was the National Childhood Cancer Foundation that managed to rescue an 85-year-old city tradition. After publicity about the parade group’s plight earlier this year, Vince Foley, president of Arcadia’s Tournament of Roses Assn., heard from residents who were shocked to learn that the city government did not finance the float.

“Once people found out how bad our situation really was, everybody wanted to know how they could help,” Foley said. The association quickly received 270 membership applications, bringing the active membership to more than 400 and raising about $12,000.

One call Foley received was from National Childhood Cancer Foundation.

The foundation, in coordination with the Childrens Cancer Group, provides juvenile cancer treatment for 115 pediatric hospitals around the world. The foundation, established six years ago in Arcadia, also promotes public awareness for the needs of children with cancer.

“Although our group is well-known around the world, we were practically unknown in our hometown,” said Dr. Denman Hammond, foundation president.

The foundation provided $20,000 to complete the 1997 float. In return, two representatives who have survived cancer, 8-year-olds Jeff Headley of San Dimas and Emily Valk of Mission Viejo, rode on the float, alongside five young women who represented Arcadia’s Rose Assn.

Even though there were some last-minute adjustments to the float to accommodate the two children, by parade time everything was ready and the ride went off without a hitch.

Details of the alliance between the two organizations will be finalized at a later date. However, Foley believes that the 1997 Rose Parade theme of “Life’s Shining Moments,” combined with young cancer survivors and an alliance with the foundation gave Arcadia’s float a higher purpose and relevance.