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Pasadena (California).- With a message of hope, unity, and remembrance, the “Rising Together” float will debut in the 2026 Rose Parade on January 1, serving as a tribute to the thousands whose lives were forever changed by the devastating 2025 wildfires in California.
This deeply emotional display not only commemorates the 31 residents who lost their lives, but also celebrates the strength of over 13,000 families who lost their homes in Altadena, Pasadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades.
The float is co-sponsored by the California Community Foundation (CCF) and the Black Freedom Fund (BFF), who clarified that no money designated for direct survivor support was used to fund the float. Instead, “Rising Together” is a symbolic and public act of collective remembrance, community strength, and a commitment to long-term, equitable recovery.
Measuring 45 feet long, the float features a powerful central image: a phoenix rising from the ashes. This universal symbol of rebirth and hope is surrounded by native California plants and coastal elements to honor shoreline communities like Malibu and Pacific Palisades and the San Gabriel Mountains—where the Eaton Fire caused immense damage. In a particularly moving detail, 31 sunflowers are incorporated into the float design, one for each life lost, symbolizing both grief and resilience.
Six wildfire survivors will ride on the float, and ten others will walk alongside, representing grassroots organizations and volunteers who have been critical in post-disaster recovery efforts. Among them is Rubén Rodríguez, who shared his harrowing escape and the loss of his home during the fires. He considers his selection to be part of the float a “great blessing.”
Rodríguez recalls how, around 5:30 a.m. on the day of the fire, he had just enough time to grab a few bags of papers before the house across the street burst into flames. “I never imagined my home could vanish like that,” he said.
His home of over 30 years was completely destroyed. Living alone now, without electricity at his lot, he’s slowly navigating recovery and is grateful to have secured a state-backed insurance plan after his original provider canceled his policy weeks before the fire.
The float is much more than a decorative presence—it is a healing space built by and for survivors. According to Miguel Santana, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation, Rising Together also plays a cultural role, especially for families in Pasadena and Altadena for whom the Rose Parade is a cherished tradition. “This float is about the community—people who didn’t know each other before, now crying, remembering, and healing together,” he said. “It’s a space to grieve, to build, and to show the world our strength.”
The float’s narrative is built on four key themes: Remembrance, Community Resilience and Leadership, Disproportionate Impact on Black and Latino Families, and Continued Need for Awareness and Support.
The float recognizes that while tragedy struck many, the burden was not shared equally.
A report by UCLA’s Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies found that nearly half of Black housing units in Altadena were destroyed or severely damaged, compared to 37% of non-Black households.
Meanwhile, research from the UCLA Policy and Politics Institute showed that Latino residents, who made up 27% of Altadena’s population, accounted for 44% of those living below the poverty line—a stark illustration of the economic vulnerabilities that deepened post-disaster hardship.
The float also highlights the mental health struggles many survivors continue to face, especially older adults who are more likely to experience isolation and uncertainty. Nearly a year after the fires, many families are still dealing with unresolved insurance claims, rising reconstruction costs, and emotional trauma.
For Rodríguez, the experience remains both surreal and painful. “I know for everyone it was heartbreaking, but even more so for those who lost loved ones,” he says. “The suffering is unbearable. This float, to me, is a blessing—a way to show the world we are still here, and we are still standing.”
The “Rising Together” float transforms a moment of national attention into a powerful statement: the recovery journey is far from over. As it moves through the Rose Parade route, it will serve as both a memorial and a beacon—honoring the past, acknowledging the pain, and celebrating the strength of community.
