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As the heavily transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus moves swiftly across the country with caseloads reaching record levels, the South Pasadena Tournament of
Roses (SPTOR) announced Sunday that the organization’s live Crunch Time Party on December 29 at the War Memorial Building has been postponed.
The fundraiser, which helps pay for steel, flowers and other materials on board its float, has been rescheduled until February or March 2022, said Brant Dunlap, president of the
SPTOR.
“While we know this may be disappointing, as it was for us, we encourage you to support us by registering and participating in our 4-day online auction,” added Dunlap.
The auction starts Monday, December 27 at 12 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. on Thursday December 30. The auction site can be found at: www.auctria.com/auction/sptorcrunchtime
“Thank you again for understanding and your continued support as we navigate yet again through another difficult situation,” wrote Dunlap in a letter to participants.
A wide assortment of items will soon fall into the hands of highest bidders in the online Crunch Time Party event.
Just like the name of South Pasadena’s float, it will be “Sky’s the Limit” on how much individuals will bid as the organization responsible for putting the float in the 133rd Rose Parade on New Year’s Day gears up for its final fundraising push of 2021.
Some of the online auction items include:
•A helicopter ride for two aboard a police helicopter donated by the South Pasadena Police Department & Foothill Air Support Team. Fly over the Rose Bowl and many other major landmarks in the area.
•Bourbon tasting, Cuban cigars, and BBQ pork rib dinner for six people at the home of South Pasadena residents Lin and Alan Vlacich.
•Four Dodger tickets, Row V behind home plate plus parking pass. They are for the 2022 season, date to be mutually agreed on between winner and donor.
•Four Green Fees plus carts at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena. Designed by famed golf architect William P. Bell, the Brookside Golf Club boasts a 95-year golf tradition. The
36-hole complex is the oldest golf course in Los Angeles County.
•Trader Joe’s olive wood cheese tray and serving board paired with mango wood handle cheese spreaders.
•Four Waterford wine glasses and a bottle of Sea Smoke 2017 Southing Pinot Noir.
In addition, the long list features a Big Bear cabin stay, a Mamma’s Brick Oven Pizza party, a four-pack of tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm, two passes to the Huntington Library,
Mijare’s dinner, and lunch with South Pasadena City Manager Armine Chaparyan.
Organizers of the auction are hoping for a big financial return as costs continue to skyrocket not only for South Pasadena’s float but the other 37 in the parade. “With everything costing so much more – double and triple over our last float – this year’s cost will probably be around $150,000 versus our last float that cost us $100,000,” in an email wrote Josh Rogers and Janet Benjamin, the construction and decorating chairs, respectively, for the SPTOR Committee.
South Pasadena has one of six self-built floats in the parade, constructed and decorated entirely by volunteers as opposed to a commercial company. Five ostriches are on board, including the largest – Theodore Fahrenheit – draped in a scarf, wearing goggles and jetpack, towering over the others, taking off from a mountaintop. Joining Theodore, the ostrich family all have names – Ollie, Gidget, Carl and Gwendolyn. SPTOR President
Brant Dunlap says the city’s float illustrates “that anything is possible when you Dare to Dream. Believe. Achieve” – the Rose Parade’s theme.
