The theme and design for the 2027 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® float was unveiled at the 2026 OneLegacy Run/Walk and Family Festival this past Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Azusa Pacific University. More than 3,000 donation and transplantation advocates including donor families, transplant recipients, transplant centers, hospital and community partners were in attendance to celebrate the gift of life and catch a glimpse at the 2027 float design, presented during a moving opening ceremony hosted by ABC 7 news anchor and living donor, Phillip Palmer.
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The 2027 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float, Guiando tu Camino – Guiding Your Journey features vibrant alebrijes, inspired by Mexican folk art and evoking Mesoamerican traditions, representing the journey of donation as one guided by love, legacy and connection.
This year’s entry reflects the 2027 Rose Parade theme, “Welcome”, celebrating the simple joy of belonging – that feeling that you’re always welcome, no matter who or where you are. This theme reflects the spirit of organ, eye, and tissue donation, where generosity opens the door to hope, healing, and new beginnings.
The 2027 OneLegacy Donate Life float, Guiando Tu Camino – Guiding Your Journey tells the story of donation through the path shared by donor families, recipients, and those still waiting. This vibrant float, inspired by Mexican folk art and evoking Mesoamerican traditions, represents the journey of donation as one guided by love, legacy, and connection.
The float showcases whimsical alebrijes as they leap through a field of marigolds, symbolizing strength, protection, and transformation. These mythical guides, inspired by the Zapotec tona, represent the everlasting presence of donors, whose gifts continue to guide others forward. Like donation and transplantation, they embody the belief that we are never alone on life’s journey, and that guidance can come from those who came before us.
In the heart of the float, floral portraits honor organ, eye, and tissue donors, framed with vibrant florals. Transplant recipients will sit on colorful benches and living donors will walk alongside the float, sharing their journey of hope and healing. Towering anthuriums complete the float, symbolizing love and compassion.
Over 1,500 organ, eye and tissue donation advocates volunteer their time every year to make the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float possible, decorating the float with organic materials such as seeds, grains, bark and flowers from October through December, with the goal of finishing it for its journey down the streets of Pasadena on New Year’s Day.
The OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® float, now in its 24th year, is produced by OneLegacy, the organ procurement organization serving Southern California, and is made possible thanks to a nationwide network of sponsoring organizations and individuals dedicated to saving and healing lives through donation and transplantation.
“This year, our float represents more than a single moment. It represents a journey,” said Prasad Garimella, CEO of OneLegacy. “We are beginning that journey now, sharing the stories of donors, recipients, and families in the months leading up to the Rose Parade. Each story is a reminder that no one walks this path alone, and that through donation, we are all connected.”
The float serves as the centerpiece of a national effort uniting donation, transplantation, and healthcare organizations to share a powerful message: organ, eye, and tissue donation saves and heals lives.
Designed by John Ramirez and brought to life by Artistic Entertainment Services (AES) and a crew of volunteers who have been touched by the power of organ, eye and tissue donation, Guiando Tu Camino – Guiding Your Journey – will travel down the streets of Pasadena on New Year’s Day, carrying with it a message of hope, connection, and the lasting impact of donation.
As the world’s most visible campaign for organ, eye, and tissue donation, the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float reminds us of the impact one “YES” can make. By registering to donate today, you could save or improve the lives of over one million transplant candidates each year. Your choice to donate reflects the strength of community and the value we place on life.
Visit www.onelegacy.org/register or Registerme.org for those outside of California to register as a donor and help save and heal lives.
About OneLegacy
OneLegacy is the nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in seven counties in Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Kern. It serves more than 200 hospitals, 9 transplant centers, a diverse population of 20 million donors and families across the region and waiting recipients across the country. Becoming an eye, organ or tissue donor is easy and can be done by registering online at donateLIFEcalifornia.org/OneLegacy or by “checking YES” at your local DMV. For more information, visit OneLegacy.org.
About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® and Rose Parade® presented by Honda
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® is a volunteer organization that hosts America’s New Year Celebration® with the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® presented by Prudential and a variety of accompanying events. The Association’s 935 Members supply more than 80,000 volunteer hours, which will drive the success of the 113th Rose Parade on Friday, January 1, 2027, followed by the College Football Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game. Visit www.tournamentofroses.com, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X, and like us on Facebook.
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