University Hospital is partnering with NJ Sharing Network during the Rose Parade to honor and remember those who gave the gift of life through organ and tissue donation, celebrate transplant recipients and living donors, and thank individuals and groups who support the donation and transplantation community.
University Hospital CEO Shereef Elnahal and several of the hospital’s team members dedicated roses accompanied by handwritten messages that will be featured on the 2022 Donate Life Rose Parade float during the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade in Southern California on New Year’s Day.
Since 2004, the Donate Life Rose Parade float has aimed to inspire people across the country and around the world to save and heal lives with the powerful message of organ and tissue donation.
The 2022 float, “Courage to Hope,” shares the courage shown by donor families, living donors and transplant recipients. The float will include a dedication garden with hundreds of individually dedicated roses, including the tribute roses from University Hospital.
According to United Network for Organ Sharing, there are nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents currently waiting for a life-saving transplant, and one person in the Garden State dies every three days waiting for a transplant. Just one organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 people.
