[Kaiser Permanente] – “Helping Mother Nature Thrive,” Kaiser Permanente’s 2016 Rose Parade float, was awarded the Grand Marshal Trophy for excellence in creative concept and design. The 127th Rose Parade marked Kaiser Permanente’s 11th float entry, designed and built once again by Fiesta Parade Floats.

“Kaiser Permanente is honored to have received this year’s Grand Marshal Trophy,” said Benjamin K. Chu, MD, MPH, MACP, executive vice president, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, Inc. and group president of Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California and Georgia regions. “And we are especially appreciative of all the Kaiser Permanente employees who volunteered their time and dedication to being a part of this time-honored tradition.”

Photo: Kaiser Permanente

More than 500 Kaiser Permanente employees and their families decorated the 55-foot long float over a five-day period. Hundreds of pounds of dry organic materials were used to decorate the float, including yellow and gold strawflower petals, walnut shell paprika and cornmeal, ming moss, pampas and uva grass, white sweet rice, gold and brown flax seeds, gray poppy seed, black onion seed, pinecone petals and cotton seed. Over 40,000 stems of coral, orange and hot pink roses were accented by tulips, daffodils, iris, tuberose, forsythia, calla lilies, hydrangea, peony, delphinium, alstroemeria, bouvardia, freesia, nerine lily, viburnum and larkspur. More than 20,000 purple dendrobium and lavender mokara orchids make up the floral canopy that frame Mother Nature’s arms.

Every year, up to twenty-four of the floats in the Rose Parade can receive official honors from the Tournament of Roses in a variety of categories and specifications. A three-member judging panel, composed of civic and floral industry leaders, is appointed by the Tournament of Roses Judging Committee to evaluate the floats within a range of classifications. Scores are based on criteria such as creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computerized animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation, and dramatic impact.

“Helping Mother Nature Thrive” celebrates the work and dedication of those building healthier communities and helps promote the importance of taking everyday steps to protect and enrich the environment. Creating healthy communities is central to Kaiser Permanente’s mission and, by supporting numerous partners and programs, is able to transform and improve the neighborhoods where people live, work, learn and play.

All past Kaiser Permanente float entries have received awards, including: Judge’s Special Trophy for the most spectacular in showmanship and dramatic impact (2015); Theme Trophy for excellence in presenting the parade theme (2013); Lathrop K. Leishman Trophy for the most beautiful float entry from a non-commercial sponsor (2012, 2014); Director’s Trophy for most artistic merit in design and floral presentation (2011, 2008, 2006); Extraordinaire Trophy for the “most spectacular” float longer than 55 feet (2010); Tournament Special Trophy for exceptional merit in multiple classifications (2009); and President’s Trophy for most effective floral use and presentation (2007).

For additional information about the 2016 Rose Parade, please visit the Tournament of Roses website. For more information about the Kaiser Permanente Rose Parade Float, “Helping Mother Nature Thrive,” please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 10 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia.