MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Dec. 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Miracle-Gro will continue its three-year tradition as the Official Rose and Flower Care Company of the Tournament of Roses® with a floral float entry designed to promote urban revitalization. Inspired by its GRO1000 mission to build 1,000 new community gardens and green spaces by 2018, the company's 150th anniversary, the float will feature a refurbished green space, a robust community vegetable garden with a produce stand and a natural pollinator garden all within a busy urban cityscape.
"Miracle-Gro's partnership with The Tournament of Roses is a perfect fit and we are very excited to head to Pasadena for one of the biggest events of the year," said John Sass, Vice President Miracle-Gro. "This year's float showcases the different areas of everyday life that are positively influenced through gardening. We want America to be inspired to create their own gardens and green spaces anywhere, even if they are found in the most unexpected places like a city."
Joining Miracle-Gro in Pasadena, Calif. is TV personality Ty Pennington who will be onsite to help decorate the float alongside more than 500 volunteers. Plus, Miracle-Gro and GRO1000 have invited representatives from four communities to ride the float as they campaign for America's votes and a chance to win a $40,000 grant for urban revitalization in their hometown.
Meet the GRO1000 People's Choice Community Garden Grant Award Finalists
This year, GRO1000 has awarded 135 community grants and garden installations across the country. Plus, Miracle-Gro has donated more than 9,000 Miracle-Gro products and provided more than 1,000 volunteer hours by its associates and employees. Now, it will award its largest grant of the year – $40,000 to one deserving community. Go to miraclegro.com/roseparade to learn more about each community and vote for your favorite garden space project:
New York City, N.Y.
Bryant Hill Community Garden's Perennial Pollinator Garden – over half the population in the Hunts Point community lives below the poverty line and residents have limited access to outdoor green space. This garden will generate revenue through honey production and provide job training for area youth. To learn more, visit http://www.nycgovparks.org/.
Detroit, Mich.
Michigan Urban Farming Initiative's Children's Sensory Garden – faced with the challenges of vacant land, blighted property, food insecurity and nutritional illiteracy, this garden will provide a hands-on, outdoor classroom for local youth to experience nature firsthand. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/MichiganUrbanFarmingInitiative.
Orlando, Fla.
Hebni Nutrition's Fresh Stop Bus – to fight against poor nutrition and increased health problems for residents, the Fresh Stop Bus will deliver healthy produce to communities deemed as "food deserts" with limited access to fresh, healthy foods, using a repurposed city bus as a mobile farmer's market. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/thefreshstopbus.
Oakland, Calif.
Lowell Park Family Market Farm – in an area challenged with limited access to healthy produce and poor health among its residents, this garden would engage local youth and adults in educational programs and job training, while providing fresh produce to area residents at an affordable cost. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/OPR.Gardening.With.A.Purpose.
"For a company that's been in the business of helping people grow their piece of the Earth since 1868, it's fitting that Miracle-Gro is bringing the simple joys of green spaces to more communities," said Su Lok, Director, Corporate and Community Partnerships Miracle-Gro.
Follow the @MiracleGro Tournament of Roses conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at #RoseParade and #GRO1000. For more information, please contact: Meghann Dowd, meghann.dowd@zenogroup.com.
About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade®, the Rose Bowl Game® and a variety of associated events. The Tournament's 935 volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization within the community and serve on one of 31 committees that ensure the success of the parade and game. Collectively, they contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year. The 126th Rose Parade presented by Honda and themed "Inspiring Stories," will take place Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, followed by the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual. For additional information on the Tournament of Roses please visit the official website at www.tournamentofroses.com.
About ScottsMiracle-Gro®
With more than $2.8 billion in worldwide sales, The Scotts Miracle-Gro® Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., we operate Scotts LawnService®, the second largest residential lawn care service business. In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligène® and Substral®. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com.