RAIN BIRD ACCEPTS 2008 SWEEPSTAKES TROPHY AND OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF ROSE PARADE SEASON WITH THE UNVEILING OF ITS 2009 FLOAT ENTRY,
ENTERTAINING EXPEDITION
Tournament Of Roses Officials Present Rain Bird With The Sweepstakes Trophy
For Rain Bird’s 2008 Float Entry, Preservation Celebration
Animal Experts Jack Hanna And Walter Crawford To Return as Float Riders in 2009
AZUSA, CA (June 17, 2008) - Rain Bird, the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, officially announced its participation in the 120th Tournament of Roses® Parade with the unveiling of a color rendering of its 2009 Parade float entry, Entertaining Expedition, in a ceremony held at the Tournament House in Pasadena, Calif today. Prior to the unveiling, Tournament of Roses officials officially presented Rain Bird with the Tournament of Roses Sweepstakes Trophy, awarded to the float entry deemed the most beautiful, in recognition of the company's 2008 float, Preservation Celebration, that vividly captured the intimate relationship between water and life by celebrating India's rich heritage of weaving water into the fabric of its cultural celebrations.
The award is Rain Bird's seventh Sweepstakes Trophy and 11th overall Rose Parade® trophy (Judge’s Special Trophy in ’07; Grand Marshall's Trophy in '04; Sweepstakes Trophy in '98, '99, '01, '02, '03, ’05 and ‘08; President's Trophy in '00; and the Director's Trophy in '97) since 1997, the first year that the company participated in the New Year's Day tradition.
In accordance with the 2009 Rose Parade theme, Hats Off To Entertainment, Rain Bird's 2009 float entry, Entertaining Expedition, showcases an African safari as Earth’s purest form of entertainment while bolstering its commitment to water conservation and the preservation of endangered species and the habitats in which they live throughout the world.
Water, a signature element of all of Rain Bird’s floats, will be prominently featured on Entertaining Expedition as 1,500 gallons of flowing recycled water will cascade over numerous waterfalls as elephants, lions, zebras and giraffes frolic in a brilliant display.
“The Tournament of Roses Parade is a perfect fit for Rain Bird’s steadfast commitment to environmental preservation and The Intelligent Use of Water™, as there is no better stage to bring worldwide focus to the importance of adapting behaviors in order to conserve Earth’s most precious natural resource,” said Rain Bird’s Director of Corporate Marketing, Dave Johnson. “Our 2009 Rose Parade float entry, Entertaining Expedition is a celebration of our planet, and by showcasing this safari scene we aim to call attention to the greatest show on earth, while bringing awareness to the central role that water plays in sustaining all of the Earth’s inhabitants.”
Rain Bird also announced the return of its float riders, animal enthusiasts Jack Hanna (who has ridden on Rain Bird’s floats from 1999 through 2008), Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio and host of Into The Wild; and Walter Crawford (who joined Mr. Hanna on Rain Bird’s floats beginning in 2001), Founder and Executive Director of the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Missouri.
Rain Bird’s participation in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade is only one example of how the company’s focus on water conservation extends beyond products and services. Rain Bird devotes significant resources to its Intelligent Use of Water public initiatives, which include a series of white papers, public service announcements, membership on the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the steering committee advising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its WaterSense product labeling program, bi-annual Intelligent Use of Water Summits, The Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition, partnerships with non-profit organizations, development and support of elementary and middle school curriculums and The Intelligent Use of Water Award program that recognizes leaders in water conservation.
ABOUT RAIN BIRD CORPORATION
Based in Azusa, CA, Rain Bird Corporation is the leading
manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services.
Since its beginnings in 1933, Rain Bird has offered the industry’s
broadest range of irrigation products for farms, golf courses,
sports arenas, commercial developments and homes in more
than 130 countries around the world. Rain Bird has been awarded
more than 130 patents, including the first in 1935 for the
impact sprinkler. Rain Bird and The Intelligent Use of Water™ is
about using water wisely. Its commitment extends beyond products
to education, training and services for the industry and
the community. Rain Bird maintains state-of-the-art manufacturing
assembly facilities in the United States, France, Sweden
and Mexico. www.rainbird.com
