.png)
South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee held a giant yard sale as part of fundraising efforts surrounding the city’s self-built float that will head down Colorado Boulevard on January 1, 2024 and, from all reports, it was the biggest yard sale they’ve ever had. “The yard sale was a great success,” event chair Steve Fillingham tells us, referring to the two-day sale Aug. 11-12 at the War Memorial Building.
“The proceeds were substantial,” Fillingham said. “This will help us meet our goal to raise the $140,000 we need to fund all the expenses to build and decorate the float.”
Due in part to good word of mouth, the August fundraiser was the most successful of the three yard sales that the group has held in 2022 and 2023.
The community came through with Fillingham adding, “it was also a success because we picked up a number of volunteers to work on the float.”
The committee received many donated items for the sale. Janet Benjamin, a key yard-sale organizer on the committee, expressed her gratitude for the community’s support.
Janet Benjamin, a key yard-sale organizer on the committee expressed gratitude for the community’s support in the way of a plethora of donation items for the sale. “People wanted to help,” she said. “For three days prior to the sale, they dropped off toys, tools, furniture, equipment, electronics, clothing and other things.” She also noted that more than a dozen people contacted the committee to pick up large items that were difficult to transport.
The turnout for the event certainly exceeded expectations. Notices had appeared in South Pasadena and Pasadena news outlets and on social media. One couple from Upland who read about the sale drove more than 30 miles to attend, saying that “it was for a good cause.”
Unsold items were donated to groups serving veterans, homeless, and other disadvantaged people, Fillingham said.
All proceeds, after expenses, will fund the building and decoration of the parade entry. South Pasadena has had a self-built float in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses’ parade longer than any other group building a float with volunteers.
Construction has already begun on the 2024 float. To volunteer to help build the core of the float prior to its final floral decoration, email construction@sptor.org . Volunteers who want to decorate the float can sign up beginning Sept. 15, 2023. Visit sptor.org for more information.
