By Melissa Wirkus, associate editor
For the nurses of Bare Root, Inc., everything is coming up roses.
That’s because 2013 marks an important year for nurses and the profession as a whole as Sally Bixby, RN, will become the first nurse to serve as the president of the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California. When Bixby assumes her role as president, she will also be only the second woman to be awarded this honor in the parade’s 124 year history.
In 2013, Sally Bixby, RN, will become the first nurse to serve as the president of the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California.
In support of this landmark announcement, a group of nurses from California have formed a non-profit organization, Bare Root, Inc., to raise funds for the first-ever nurses float in the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade. They kicked off their efforts with the Web site www.Flowers4thefloat.org, where supporters can donate their time and money and also learn about sponsorship opportunities.
The idea for entering a float in the parade dedicated to nursing came after Bixby’s upcoming presidency was announced. “A group of us came together in 2006 after the announcement and formed the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the goal of raising money to build a float dedicated to nurses,” said Suzanne Ward, RN.
Ward, who has over 38 years of nursing experience, is the treasurer for Bare Root, Inc., and is excited about giving nurses a chance to finally get the recognition they deserve.
“The purpose of this whole project is to say thank you to all the nurses in the world who make a difference in patients’ lives. We want this to bring attention to the nursing profession for young people and show what nurses can do,” she said. “Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare community.”
The float, which will be decorated with a variety of flowers and plants and viewed by millions of people, will garner much-needed attention for the nursing profession—especially in light of the current nursing shortage.
“We want to educate people about the profession and let people know how important nursing is,”
Ward explained.
The parade is also a great venue to spark interest in younger people who have not considered a career in nursing and to let the general public see another side to nurses, Ward noted.
“This is an opportunity for the world to see nurses coming together as a group in a fun, celebratory event. This is our opportunity to stand on center stage and say, ‘We are fabulous. We are awesome. We make a difference.'"
Nurses and supporters alike are encouraged to donate to the float and all funds will go towards designing, creating and building the float. Ward notes that the next couple of years leading up to the parade are important for fundraising.
“We want everybody who is grateful and thankful for the nurses in their lives to contribute,” Ward said. “We want to raise $500,000.”
Besides traditional mail-in and online contributions, the fundraising site also offers an interactive way to donate through e-cards and e-bouquets.
Volunteers will also be needed in the future to build and decorate the float. Those interested in volunteering can sign-up and get more information on the Web site.
Ward hopes that the nurses float and Bixby’s historic presidency will help to shed a new light on nursing and give those who have been dedicated to the profession a chance to be recognized and congratulated for all they do.
“There isn’t a human being alive today that hasn’t been touched by a nurse,” she said. “We want to let people know that a career in nursing is awesome. Nurses do everything from taking care of patients, to teaching, and working in their communities and to becoming president of an international parade. This is about nurses, for nurses and an opportunity for nurses to say, ‘We gave to that float.’”
For more information or to donate to the nurses float visit www.Flowers4thefloat.org
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