AZUSA, Calif., December 23, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–OneLegacy will honor 19 Southern Californians whose lives have been touched by the power of organ, eye, and tissue donation on the 2026 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® float, themed “Treasure Every Moment Together.” The announcement was made at a press event that took place earlier this month at Rosemont Pavilion in Pasadena, where the float is being decorated with dried organic materials by Artistic Entertainment Services (AES) staff and volunteers, ahead of the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.
Representing honorees ranging from a 21-month-old baby to a 75-year-old man, these 2026 OneLegacy Donate Life float local participants and their families share heartfelt and inspiring stories of donation.
“OneLegacy is honored to celebrate and share the uplifting stories of Southern California donors, recipients, and families, who have been touched by the power of organ, eye and tissue donation, at the iconic Rose Parade on New Year’s Day,” said Prasad Garimella, CEO of OneLegacy. “We look forward to showing our finished float and inspire those who watch the Rose Parade to say ‘YES’ to donation when they see our float sailing down the streets of Pasadena.”
The 2026 OneLegacy Donate Life Float’s Southern California honorees, sponsored by OneLegacy, Sanofi, Nu Acoustics and Donate Life California, include:
Six organ and tissue recipients who received a second chance at life thanks to their donors:
Byron Thompson, a heart transplant recipient from Los Angeles. When he needed it the most, an amazing community of friends stepped up to help Byron heal after his transplant surgery. OneLegacy is sponsoring Byron.
Elsa Garcia-Chau, a retired schoolteacher and heart transplant recipient from Artesia, who now enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, thanks to her donor. She also volunteers her time as a OneLegacy Ambassador to inspire local communities to say “YES” to organ, eye, and tissue donation. OneLegacy is sponsoring Elsa.
Isabel Sabori, a heart and double lung transplant recipient and OneLegacy Ambassador, who left everything behind to move from her small town of Benjamin Hill in Mexico, to California, after being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and learning that she would eventually need a lifesaving transplant. OneLegacy is sponsoring Isabel.
Jamie Alcroft, a heart and liver transplant recipient, comedian, author, voice actor, and passionate OneLegacy Ambassador from Los Angeles, California, who shares the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation through humor, storytelling, and community engagement, most recently creating LAFF4LIFE, a national program offering registered donors free tickets to IMPROV/LEVITY LIVE Comedy Clubs. OneLegacy is sponsoring Jamie.
Samer Flaih, a hard-working family man from Syria who is a long-time resident of Goleta, whose kidneys were failing after suffering from an auto-immune disease, and who generously re-gifted a kidney he received from Elmer Valenzuela to Brenda Johnson. Sanofi is sponsoring Samer.
Brenda Johnson, a liver and kidney recipient, mother and grandmother from Los Angeles who grew up with a large family of 11 siblings, and who received two lifesaving organ transplants: a liver transplant at the age of 50, after being diagnosed with a life threatening disease, and several years later, a kidney transplant from deceased donor, Elmer Valenzuela. Her kidney was retransplanted from Samer Flaih, to Brenda at UCLA. Sanofi is sponsoring Brenda.
