Rain Bird Celebrates a Dozen Years of Rose Parade Participation

Rain Bird, a manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, officially began its 12th consecutive “run for the roses” with the unveiling of a color rendering of its 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade float entry, Preservation Celebration, in a ceremony held at the company’s Azusa, Calif. facility. Prior to the unveiling, presiding Tournament of Roses President, CL Keedy, officially presented Rain Bird with the 2007 Tournament of Roses Judge’s Special Trophy, awarded to the float entry deemed the most spectacular in showmanship and dramatic impact, in recognition of the company's 2007 float, Natural Beauties, that showcased a vivid array of impressive lifelike lizards in a spectacular tropical scene.

The award is Rain Bird's 10th Rose Parade Trophy (Judge’s Special in ’07; Grand Marshal's Trophy in '04; Sweepstakes Trophy in '98, '99, '01, '02,'03 and ‘05; President's Trophy in '00; and the Director's Trophy in '97) since 1997, the first year that the company participated in the New Year's Day tradition.

In accordance with the 2008 Rose Parade theme, Passport to the World's Celebrations, Rain Bird's 2008 float entry, Preservation Celebration, pays tribute to the intimate relationship that exists between water and life by celebrating India’s rich heritage of weaving Earth’s most precious resource into the fabric of its cultural celebrations.

Water, a signature element of all of Rain Bird’s floats will be prominently featured on Preservation Celebration as 1,500 gallons of flowing recycled water will cascade over eight separate waterfalls in a brilliant display of Earth’s most precious resource.

“As is tradition with all of Rain Bird’s Tournament of Roses Parade float entries, Preservation Celebration calls attention to the importance of adapting behaviors in order to conserve Earth’s most precious natural resource for generations to come – a perfect fit for Rain Bird’s steadfast commitment to environmental preservation and The Intelligent Use of Water™,” said Rain Bird’s Director of Corporate Marketing, Dave Johnson. “In focusing on the Indian culture, we see a rich history of festivals and traditions celebrating the significance of water and the central role that water plays in sustaining all of the Earth’s inhabitants. We are excited to once again have the opportunity to utilize the Rose Parade’s worldwide stage to bring awareness to the central role that water plays in sustaining all of the Earth’s inhabitants.”

Rain Bird also announced the return of its float riders, animal enthusiasts Jack Hanna (who has ridden on Rain Bird’s floats from 1999 through 2007), Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio and host of Into The Wild; and Walter Crawford (who joined Hanna on Rain Bird’s floats beginning in 2001), Founder and Executive Director of the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Mo.

Rain Bird’s participation in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade is only one example of how the company’s focus on conservation extends beyond products and services. Rain Bird devotes significant resources to its Intelligent Use of Water public initiatives, which include a series of white papers, public service announcements, membership on the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the steering committee advising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its WaterSense product labeling program, bi-annual Intelligent Use of Water Summits, partnerships with non-profit organizations, development and support of elementary and middle school curriculums and The Intelligent Use of Water Awards program that showcases leaders in water conservation.