Local Families To Have Part In Rose Bowl Parade

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Two local families will play a special role in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year's Day and they're hoping it will inspire people around the country to consider organ donation.

The families of Brittany Grimm and Lou Poliziani will both be riding on a special float in the parade representing The Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE).

The theme of the float is "Donate Life" and each family represents a different side of organ donation.

While Grimm, 15, received a new heart a few years ago, the Poliziani family donated their loved one's organs to create a lasting legacy in his honor.

"Whenever I got the call from CORE that my brother [Tom] was going to be honored like this, my heart kind of stopped for a second," Lou Poliziani told KDKA-TV.

An image of Tom will be a part of a flag made of a floragraph that his family made. After putting the finishing touches on it today, they'll be shipping it to Pasadena.

"Tommy was never one for accolades for the public or anything like that, so… to think about how he would feel about this, this would be way too much for him," his brother added. "Tommy was always one to let others shine; but to have his moment in the sun is pretty special."