Press Releases: Southern California
December 11, 2006
Kaiser Permanente's Rose Parade Float Conveys that a Healthy Imagination is Key to Thriving in the New Year
PASADENA, Calif. – Kaiser Permanente is entering a captivating float into the 118th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade to convey that a healthy imagination is key to thriving in the new year. Kaiser Permanente is building on the success of last year's float, which received the parade's Director's Trophy for outstanding artistic merit in design and floral presentation, with a new design featuring stunning images from the classic Mother Goose nursery rhymes. The parade is set to begin in Pasadena on Monday, January 1, 2007, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST).
The float colorfully communicates positive folk stories and characters for the young and not so young, engendering wholesome images and inspiring people to exercise their best human qualities, which is consistent with the "Our Good Nature" parade theme. The float aims to inspire viewers to develop healthier lifestyles, which is a popular new year's resolution (losing weight ranks #1 on most surveys). Well-being includes one's physical, mental, and spiritual balance. This led Kaiser Permanente to give its float the theme, "A Thriving Imagination," which is an extension of the organization's total health philosophy and its ongoing "Thrive" communication efforts.
On the float, Mother Goose soars high over rose-laden clouds and a brightly decorated rainbow. The re-creations of many of the most popular children's nursery rhymes are represented in charming vignettes throughout the float which have been craftfully created by combining florally decorated props and costumed float riders. Showcased are Hickory-Dickory-Dock; The Cat and the Fiddle; Little Bo-Peep; Jack and Jill; Three Blind Mice; Little Miss Muffet; Humpty Dumpty; Little Jack Horner; and Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod. The whimsical float provides fun memories for all. The float was designed by Raul R. Rodriguez, who has won more awards than any other designer in the history of the Rose Parade, and built by Fiesta Parade Floats. Attached is a float rendering and a float details sheet.
Amidst the magnificent flowers and images are the young costumed float riders, some who have overcome health issues related to weight and diabetes. For example, two riders and their families completed an innovative weight loss program called Kaiser Permanente Kids in Dynamic Shape (KP KIDS) that addresses the growing childhood obesity epidemic. KP KIDS is open to Kaiser Permanente members and non-members, and interested individuals should contact a Kaiser Permanente facility near them for information on this program and other weight management programs, which have classes starting in early 2007. Several other riders are excelling in school, performing well in athletics, and are productively engaged in civic and social organizations, while managing diabetes.
"Kaiser Permanente is about helping people live healthier lives," said Benjamin K. Chu, MD, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California. "We are able to reach a large and diverse audience with this message. We want to remind people that our doctors are available to talk about developing realistic plans to lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more, and eat better - four of the ten most common resolutions. The float symbolizes that we are creative, imaginative, and engaged in the social life of the people we serve. Our physicians and employees are very proud of the float, and many volunteered much time and energy decorating it. Participating in the Rose Parade is purposeful and fun."
The Rose Parade will feature floral floats, equestrian units, and marching bands from throughout the nation. Each year, approximately 40 million Americans across the nation watch the parade on television, as well as millions of additional international viewers in 150 territories around the world. The parade is broadcast live by nine networks: ABC, NBC, HGTV, Tribune, Univision, Telemundo, Travel Channel, Discovery HD Theater, and Sky Link TV. In addition, an estimated one million people line the parade route in Pasadena each New Year's Day to watch the event in-person.
FLOAT DETAILSThe 55-foot long float is highly animated. Mother Goose nods to the Parade crowd and takes flight as she raises and lowers her wings to a height and width of 28 feet. Cow "jumps" over the moon, cat and dog "dance" to the fiddle music, and a mouse "runs" up the clock as it "strikes one." An on-board sound system enhances this playful entry.
Riding on the float are children in costume. For example, riding on the back of Mother Goose will be two girls from the Los Angeles-area: April Diaz and Lisi Bzoskie. April completed the Kaiser Permanente Kids in Dynamic Shape (KP KIDS) weight loss program and was subsequently named homecoming queen at North Hollywood High School. Lisi is an active athlete, and last year her cheerleading team was named national champions. Lisi's mother is a physician who works for Kaiser Permanente at its Bellflower Medical Center. Both April and Lisi are excelling in school. They embody the healthy lifestyle that the float strives to inspire viewers to reach.
A sophisticated hydraulic system has been incorporated into the design to lower the 30-foot tall float to 17 feet in height in less than 45 seconds, allowing the float to pass under low wires and the freeway bridge along the parade route. Mother Goose's wings also retract in width from 28 feet to 18 feet.
The rich detail of the float's flowering is incredible. Crisp white button mums over fresh coconut chips complete the fluffy down and feathers on Mother Goose. She soars over floral clouds of white Akita roses lined in delicate white dendrobium orchid florets. The rainbow glows in brilliant gem tones of red Charlotte roses, orange Mirage roses, yellow Goldstrike roses, blue iris, and purple Ocean Song roses.
An array of textures and materials have been used to complete the sculptured figurines including red dock seed, brown palm fiber and walnut shell, blue sinuata statice, gray ming moss and lettuce seed, tan sesame seed and natural oats, green split pea, black seaweed and red ilex berries. Stone bridge has been artistically produced in a mixture of gray poppy seed, sweet rice and black chive seed with sphagnum, and mood moss accents.
Gardens of 50,000 roses, including creamy Vendelia, light pink Laguna and medium pink Pekcoubo frame old-fashioned English storybook gardens of peony, delphinium, larkspur, liatris, French tulips, Oriental lilies, hydrangea, and lilac.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program with Southern California headquarters in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 3.3 million members in Southern California. Today it encompasses the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Kaiser Permanente's Southern California Region includes more than 49,900 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 6,000 physicians representing all specialties. More information about Kaiser Permanente can be found at kaiserpermanente.org.
