OneLegacy Celebrates PVHMC with HRSA Award and Rose Dedication Ceremony

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) has been awarded the prestigious Platinum Recognition from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for its efforts in organ, eye, and tissue donation. This recognition honors hospitals that demonstrate excellence in promoting and facilitating donation programs, improving the quality and availability of donor organs, and providing compassionate support for donor families.

According to Donate Life California, more than 21,000 people in the state are waiting for an organ transplant.

PVHMC’s Platinum Recognition highlights the hospital’s continued commitment to raising awareness about the critical need for organ donation and maintaining strong, collaborative partnerships with organizations like One Legacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation in the greater Los Angeles area. The hospital's efforts have played a key role in saving lives and improving the health outcomes of patients in need of transplants.

“We are incredibly proud to again receive the Platinum Recognition from HRSA for our efforts to promote organ, eye, and tissue donation,” said Richard E. Yochum, FACHE, President/CEO of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. “From hosting donor enrollment and education events to ensuring our organ donors are recognized through Honor Walks in the hospital, we are committed to any and all efforts to encourage and celebrate organ donation.”

For more information on organ, eye, and tissue donation, or to register to become an organ donor, visit: https://donatelifecalifornia.org/onelegacy/.

Rose Dedication

At the celebration event, OneLegacy also allowed members of the PVHMC Organ Donor Committee to dedicate roses that were placed in vials on the 2025 @onelegacyinspires Donate Life Rose Parade float.

Associates wrote personal messages of hope and remembrance to recognize, honor and celebrate organ, eye and tissue donors, recipients and their loved ones. The rose vials will be installed on the float, which were seen on January 1, 2025 at 8:00 am PST during the Rose Parade television and streaming broadcast.

From OneLegacy: The theme of the 2025 float is “Let Your Life Soar.” It features a vibrant scene inspired by the beloved Japanese celebration of Children’s Day. Colorful Koi Nobori (Flying Fish Flags) or windsocks shaped like fish, fly overhead. Streamers bear the family crest, followed by koinobori in a sequence representing father, mother, and children in order of birth. In Japan the koi fish represent strength, courage, and health. These same attributes define not only those who chose to give the gift of life, but also their families and their recipients. The scales of the koi fish highlight memorial floral portraits or floragraphs, representing donors who gave the gift of life. The fish windsocks soar over a garden of flowering trees, featuring stone lanterns and a beautiful bridge. Organ, eye and tissue recipients will ride on the float, sharing the gratitude they feel for their donors’ gift of life. Living donors will walk alongside the float, showing the power of living donation. The 2025 OneLegacy Donate Life Float honors tradition, family, and love within the donation and transplantation community.