Local Organ, Eye and Tissue Donors, Transplant Recipients and Living Donors to be Honored on the 2026 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® Float on New Year’s Day

AZUSA, Calif.--(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.

Two living donors who gave a second chance at life to others with their gifts and who will walk alongside the float:

• Sheila Rodriguez, a public safety dispatcher from Ontario, California, who donated a lobe of her liver to someone in need, and who volunteers her time as a OneLegacy Ambassador. OneLegacy is sponsoring Sheila.
• Sparkal Day, a camera operator for CBS2/KCAL9 in Los Angeles who has always been inspired by the OneLegacy Donate Life float, especially after she donated one of her kidneys to save her mother’s life. OneLegacy is sponsoring Sparkal.

Sixteen organ, eye or tissue donors who gave the gift of life after their death:

• Carlos Woods, a young exotic animal lover from Maywood, who passed away at 18, and who will be honored by Donate Life California.
• Elmer Valenzuela, a hard-working father and husband from Lawndale, who saved several lives as an organ donor, and who will be honored by Sanofi.
• Lloyd Nilson, a speed and adventure enthusiast from Rubidoux, who enjoyed ATV’s, trucks, dune buggies, and restoring his 1968 muscle car. He also served as a volunteer firefighter in Jurupa Valley. Lloyd saved several lives as an organ donor, including a family friend. Nu Acoustics is sponsoring Lloyd to be honored on the float.

OneLegacy is sponsoring the following floragraph honorees:

• Daniel Matthew Rios, a 21-month-old baby from Victorville, who saved four lives as an organ donor, including the life of a little girl in California, who received his heart.
• Jaime de los Santos, a devoted plumber, loyal friend, and family man from Van Nuys, who saved and heal lives as an organ and tissue donor.
• James Reeve, a boat racing enthusiast from Kingsburg, who considered boating more than a hobby. It was his passion. He died at a boating event but was able to save and heal countless lives through his donation.
• Jayden Saenz, a 3-year-old boy from Santa Clarita who cherished every moment with his beloved siblings and parents. Jayden loved playing soldiers and dressing up in Ghillie suits with his brother. Jayden’s zest for life touched many, and upon his passing, his parents continued his legacy through organ donation. Jayden’s gift of life saved four people.
• Jeffrey Ng, a gentle and caring dentist from Yucaipa who lived a full life next to his wife, children and grandchildren, and who healed many lives as a tissue donor.
• Jenny Fedele Fennel, an aspiring nurse and mother of one from Riverside who enjoyed spending time with her family and who gave her time to help others. She became a cornea donor upon her sudden passing.
• Katie Sedor, a young woman from La Verne who despite battling a chronic auto-immune disease since the age of 14, excelled academically and athletically in high school and college. She became an organ donor and saved three lives with her heart and kidneys.
• Kevin Morales Avena, a young man from Fontana who lived a life of service, helping local animal shelters, adopting three dogs and volunteering as a firefighter. He saved many lives as an organ, tissue, and cornea donor.
• Mark Daniel Flores, a 20-year-old behavior specialist who was on the path to becoming a firefighter. His true passion lay in music, especially as a bass player. After his life was cut short in a motorcycle accident, he became a cornea and tissue donor.
• Micah Moyer, a teen from Apple Valley who spent most of his seventeen birthdays in Angel Stadium, cheering on his favorite baseball team, and playing competitive travel baseball throughout Southern California. Micah saved five lives through organ donation.
• Miranda Araya, a 16-year-old from Northridge who loved her skateboard and who found community at local skateparks. She also enjoyed attending concerts and music festivals and saved multiple lives after a skating accident, including a 14-year-old who received her heart and a mother who received her kidney.
• Raejonette Morgan, a 23-year-old vibrant, young woman from Inglewood who was the youngest of three children, and who brought joy to her parents and siblings. After her life was tragically cut short last year, she became an organ donor and saved four lives.
• Skylar Saunders, an 11-year-old girl who was raised in Pasadena who enjoyed singing and dancing at family parties and making TikTok videos with friends. Skylar suffered from asthma, and she died after a severe asthma attack. She saved several lives with her organs, including the life of a family friend.

Celebrating 23 years of participation in the traditional Rose Parade® New Year’s Day celebrations, the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® Float is the world’s most visible campaign to inspire organ, eye and tissue donation and to deliver the simple and powerful message that donation saves and heals lives. The 2026 float would not be possible without the help of more than 20 sponsors.

To learn more about the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float, visit onelegacyfloat.org