Rose Parade

2011: Catherine Casey

Minneapolis police officer Catherine Casey, mother of tissue donor Deanna Casey, rode the 2011 Donate Life float in honor of tissue donors worldwide. This was RTI’s eighth consecutive year supporting the program. The float recognizes the thousands of people who give the gift of life through organ and tissue donation each year and was one of 90 parade floats and units in this year’s “Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories,” themed parade. The Donate Life float presented the theme “Seize the Day” as its colorful kites represented donor families, living donors and transplant recipients making new memories through a precious moment.

Catherine lost her daughter Deanna at the age of 16 in a car accident as a result of an impaired driver. According to Catherine, at the time Deanna received her driver’s license a fateful mother-daughter conversation took place where they talked about donation. They both agreed that donation was the right thing to do.

2010: Tim Heffernan

Tim Heffernan, donor son, honored his mother and others who gave the gift of life through organ and tissue donation as one of 24 people riding a special float in the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. The Donate Life float, one of 90 parade floats and units in the 2010 celebration presented the theme “New Life Rises” as it symbolizes the importance of donation. Tim is an employee of RTI Biologics. His mother, Linda, passed away suddenly at the age of 50 in February 1999 from a pulmonary embolism, five days after undergoing elective surgery. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and a friend. She raised three children – son Tim and two older sisters, Karen and Kim.

2009: Theresa Lozada

Theresa Lozada, donor wife, represented RTI Donor Services as a rider on the 2009 Donate Life Float. She was among 26 riders who represented the millions of people touched by organ and tissue donation. Her husband was honored for giving the gift of life with his picture appearing on a gold star floragraph. In February 2008, her husband, Victor, passed away after having an accident while on duty riding in the motorcade protecting Hillary Clinton in Dallas, Tx. He was 49 years old. Theresa and her children discussed donation and decided that it was the right thing to do. “We saw it as a way for him to live on, and we wanted to give someone else a second chance,” she says.

2008: Dawn Giese

Tissue recipient and registered nurse Dawn Giese, left, represented RTI Donor Services as a rider on the 2008 Donate Life Float in recognition of the thousands of people who donate tissue each year. The Shawano, Wis. resident was among 24 people riding the special float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. The pain in Dawn Giese’s lower back began in 2004 due to a spinal stress fracture. It was devastating for the then 42-year-old registered nurse when she tried to walk up and down stairs, roll over in bed, or drive a long distance. After six more months of pain and limited mobility, Dawn underwent transplant surgery to replace her fractured vertebrae. The procedure changed her life. “I tell people, especially other transplant patients, that I’m 95 percent pain-free, 95 percent of the time,” she said. “There’s really nothing I can’t do.”

2007: Susan Giess

Donor mom Susan Giess, left, from Palmetto, Ga., holds a photo of her daughter Mandy and waves to the crowd during the 2007 Rose Parade. Susan represented RTI Donor Services as a rider on the Donate Life Float, and helped raise awareness of the importance of tissue donation.

2006: Mary Ann Venturelli

Mary Ann Venturelli, donor mom, rides the Donate Life Float in memory of her daughter and tissue donor Trina.