The cancellation of the Rose Parade this upcoming January is having an impact on JJ's Legacy, the local non-profit who partakes in the parade every year.
23ABC's Bayne Froney spoke to the founder of JJ's Legacy to learn how they plan to honor those who passed and donated organs this year, without the traditional parade.
PARADE THIS UPCOMINGJANUARY, IS HAVING AN IMPACT ONJJ'S LEGACY, THE LOCAL NON-PROFIT WHO PARTAKES IN THEPARADE EVERY YEAR.23 ABC'S BAYNE FRONEY SPOKE TOTHE FOUNDER OF JJ'S LEGACY TOLEARN HOW THEY PLAN TO HONORTHOSE WHO PASSED ANDDONATED ORGANS THIS YEAR,WITHOUT THE TRADITIONALPARADE.WHILE THE PARADE MAY BECANCELLED JJ'S LEGACY SAYSTHEIR COMMITMENT TO ORGANDONATION AND CELEBRATINGTHOSE WHO GIVE WILL CONTINUETHROUGH THE PANDEMICFOR 10 YEARS JJ'S LEGACY'S ROSEPARADE FLOAT HAS HONOREDORGANS DONORS WITH A FULORAGRAPH- A PORTRAITCREATED WITH FLOWERS, SPICES, ORSEEDS, BUT THIS YEAR WITHTHE CANCELLATION OF PARADE DUETO COVID-19CONCERNS.
THE NON PROFIT ISWORKING TO FIND A NEW WAY TOHONOR THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.LORI MALKIN, FOUNDER OF JJ'SLEGACY"SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAMEYESTERDAY, WE'RE NOT SUREEXACTLY HOW WE WILL MOVE FORWARDHERE IN KERN COUNTY TOBE ABLE TO HONOR A LOVED ONE ORSEVERAL, BUT WE HOPETHAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING LOCALLYSO THAT WE CAN CONTINUETHE LEGACY OF HUMAN KINDNESS TOHONOR THOSE LOVED ONES."THE PARADE WASN'T THE ONLY EVENTCANCELLED, THISPAST APRIL DURING THE NATIONALDONATE LIFE MONTH, ATTIME WHEN HOSPITALS AROUND THECOUNTRY HELPWITH SIGNING UP ORGAN DONORS, AYEARLY CEREMONY HADTO BE SCALED BACK.ANTHONY BLACK-EGGLESTON,REGIONAL MANAGER FORSPIRITUAL CARE FOR MERCY,MEMORIAL HOSPITAL"WE HAVE A FLAG CEREMONY OUTSIDEOF OUR HOSPITAL WHICHIS REALLY A FUN OPPORTUNITY TOSHOW OUR SUPPORT.UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO THECOVID-19 SITUATION, WEHAD TO CANCEL IT FOR THIS YEAR."BUT EVEN WITH THIS PANDEMIC JJ'SLEGACY BELIEVES IT'SIMPORTANT TO HONOR AND CELEBRATEORGAN DONORSAND THEIR FAMILIES"JJ'S LEGACY HERE IN KERNCOUNTY, WE ARE JUST REALLYBLESSEDTO HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORTERS THATBELIEVE IN OUR CAUSE ANDWE KNOW THAT THERE IS HOPE FORMORE REGISTEREDDONORS TO SAVE LIVES."AS OF RIGHT NOW, JJ'S LEGACY HASNOT SET A TIMELINE OFWHEN A CELEBRATION WOULD BE, WEWILL KEEP YOUUPDATE IF A DATE OR CEREMONY ISSET.
NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TOBECOME A ORGAN DONORHEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TURNTO23.COMFOR A LINKCOMING UP ON 23ABC NEWS AT SIX-- U-S-C IS LOOKING TO GIVEMORE INCENTIVE FOR STUDENTS TOSTUDY ONLINE... DETAILS ON THEAID THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TOGIVE DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENTS.FOR MORE REGISTERED DONORS TOSAVE LIVES."-- U-S-C IS LOOKING TO GIVE