PBTF Ride for Kids Featured on Honda's Rose Parade Float
December 9, 2009, 11:37am
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| Brain tumor survivor Trent (center) and other float riders admire a model of Honda’s Ship of Dreams. |
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| An artist’s rendering of the Rose Parade float, which spotlights Honda’s commitment to charities that improve the lives of children. |
The Honda float is a three-masted sailing ship captained by a model of the company’s ASIMO humanoid robot and featuring seven of Honda’s philanthropic partners that help improve the lives of children.
Representatives from each of the organizations will be riding on the float when it sets sail in front of millions of viewers watching from around the world. The PBTF’s float rider is Trent, a 16-year-old brain tumor survivor from Simi Valley, Calif.
“It is an honor to be associated with Honda, which has been the presenting sponsor of Ride for Kids since 1991,” said PBTF President Dianne Traynor. “We are very grateful to be featured on their Rose Parade float. It gives us a wonderful opportunity to educate the public about childhood brain tumors and to advocate for the lives of these kids. Having a pediatric brain tumor survivor ride on the float also delivers a very positive message of hope for the families that are dealing with this disease.”
The sails on the 45-foot-tall, 75-foot-long Ship of Dreams feature the names and logos of the seven Honda partners, also including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, College Bound, National Youth Project Using Minibikes (NYPUM), Pediatric Therapy Network, Special Olympics Southern California, and Students Run L.A.
“As one of the longest-running sponsors of the Tournament of Roses, every year we try to do something extra special with our float entry and this year is no exception. We’re thrilled this year to shine a light on some of our long-time community partners that help fulfill the dreams and needs of children,” said Stephan Morikawa of American Honda Corporate Community Relations.
As part of Honda’s sponsorship of the Tournament of Roses, the 2010 Acura ZDX will lead the parade as the pace car. And, annually Honda provides vehicles, Metropolitan scooters and generators for use by Tournament personnel. Honda’s multipurpose utility vehicle, Big Red, will also make its Rose Parade debut this year. Honda’s Rose Parade float entries have captured major awards in 14 out of the last 15 years. Honda has featured the float and each organization at: http://corporate.honda.com/ShipofDreams.
About Honda
This year marks Honda’s 50th anniversary in the U.S. The company began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary. Honda began U.S. production of motorcycles in 1979 and automobiles in 1982. The company has invested more than $12.1 billion in its North American operations with employment of nearly 28,000 associates, and annual purchases of more than $17.5 billion in parts and materials from suppliers in North America. Honda vehicles are manufactured using domestic and globally-sourced parts.
Honda Multimedia Newsroom: http://www.hondanews.com
Honda on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/honda
Honda on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/alicia_at_honda
Honda on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/hondanews
Honda Web site: http://www.honda.com
About the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF), a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Asheville, N.C., is the world's largest non-governmental funder of childhood brain tumor research. Its programs include free educational information about brain tumors, Internet conferences, college scholarships, and Ride for Kids® motorcycle charity events. For more information, call 800-253-6530 or go to http://www.pbtfus.org/.
