Monday, December 29, 2025

Hope Rises Along Colorado Boulevard

Back row left to right: Marc Philpart, president BFF; Miguel Santana, president CCF; Mark Leavens, president, Tournament of Roses; Andrew King. Front row left to right: Jacque Baisley Robinson, Eaton Fire survivor; Myra Burg, Palisades Fire survivor; Shimica Gaskins, Eaton Fire survivor; Gina Clayton Johnson, Eaton Fire survivor.

California Community Foundation’s 2026 Rose Parade float tells a story of recovery

As millions around the world tune in to the 2026 Rose Parade, one float will carry a message shaped not only by flowers and design, but by loss, resilience, and the long road to recovery. The California Community Foundation’s entry, “Rising Together,” draws inspiration from communities across Southern California still rebuilding after catastrophic wildfires.

The float reflects months of collaboration between philanthropic leaders, nonprofit partners, and survivors themselves. “This has been a labor of love,” said Marc Philpart, executive director of the Black Freedom Fund. “We came together with a real kind of pure intention, supporting a community that has been devastated.” Philpart emphasized that the project was rooted in ensuring that neighborhoods such as Altadena and Pasadena were “not left behind” as recovery efforts continue.

Eight wildfire survivors, including Darlene Leyba, Eaton Fire survivor; Andrew King, Eaton Fire survivor; Jacque Robinson-Baisley, Eaton Fire survivor, and Myra Burg, Malibu Fire survivor,  will ride on the 55-foot “Rising Together” float, alongside nonprofit leaders who played key roles in relief efforts. For Philpart, that choice reflects the heart of the project. “It really is about all of you and all of the communities that will be impacted by the powerful work that you’re helping us to advance,” he told the audience at a gathering of float volunteers and supporters on Sunday at Rosemont Pavilion.

For David Newman, chair of the foundation’s board of directors, working on the float offered a new perspective on an event he had attended for years. “I’ve been to the parade many times, but this is the first time that I’ve been inside,” Newman said. “I picked exactly the right occasion because the theme behind our float is so meaningful.”

Newman noted that wildfire relief became one of the foundation’s largest undertakings, reaching communities including Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu. “The theme of rising together really defines what it is that we’re trying to accomplish,” he said.

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo described the float as a reflection of the region’s shared identity. “Our families grow up together,” he said. “We celebrate birthdays, celebrate marriages, and difficult times.” Gordo credited the foundation for responding “very, very swiftly and generously” following the fires, adding that Pasadena’s global visibility on New Year’s Day gives the story of recovery a rare platform.

Cielo Castro, the foundation’s chief of policy and programs, said the float was also designed as a reminder that recovery does not end when media attention fades. “We didn’t want people to forget that a year later people are still suffering,” Castro said. She noted that rebuilding entire communities can take a decade or more, underscoring why long-term philanthropic commitment remains critical.

Declan Floyd, speaking on behalf of Assemblymember John Harabedian, said January 7 marked a defining moment for the region. “From that day on, we knew that this year would be remembered as the year of the fire,” Floyd said. But he pointed to the upcoming parade as a signal of renewal. “It’s our community coming back stronger than ever before.”