Rose Festival Parade — June 2005

Portland Rescue Mission wins Judges Award for Exceptional Merit

Over two million people attended the 2005 Southwest Airlines Rose Festival Parade. The International Festival & Events Association ranks the Rose Festival as one of the top 10 festivals in the world. The Parade is also ranked as the 2nd largest all-floral parade and the 4th best parade overall in the United States, according to USA TODAY.

This year, Portland Rescue Mission had over 2,100 volunteer hours in putting together the float. These hours helped make the float a success on the parade route. Special thanks to Studio Concepts who donated $2500 to the Rescue Mission, based on these volunteer hours.

The Portland Rescue Mission float consisted of a lighthouse, the logo of the Portland Rescue Mission, and our Men's Choir. The men's choir consisted of eighteen formerly homeless men who have discovered the wonder of new life. What a joy it was to see them on the float singing about new life. What's more, the float won “Judges Award for Exceptional Merit”!

Thank you to all who volunteered time and energy to make this float a great success! We appreciate you!