Late Southern Ocean Toddler Honored On Rose Parade Float

WARETOWN, NJ — A Southern Ocean toddler who lost her life at just 3 was honored during the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, for the lives she saved via organ donation.

Lilyanne “Lily” James was honored with a special floragraph tribute on OneLegacy’s Donate Life float — the world’s most visible campaign to inspire organ and tissue donation, the NJ Sharing Network said.

On July 14, 2022, Lily and her mother, Denise, died in a car accident.

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While Craig James was grieving the loss of his wife and child, he made the decision to donate Lily's organs to save others. Lily’s heart and liver saved the lives of two young boys, and her kidneys gave the gift of life to an adult in need.

The James family traveled to Pasadena to attend the Rose Parade in honor of Lily, whose floragraph was sponsored by the Sharing Network Foundation and made possible through its Employee Giving Campaign. Reflecting on the experience, Craig shared that his decision to say “yes” to organ donation was guided by love and empathy.

“I put myself in the shoes of a parent whose child was desperately waiting for an organ,” Craig said. “I knew organ donation was the right thing to do — and something Denise would have wanted for Lily, too. Lily’s legacy now lives on through others. Seeing Lily honored on such a global stage was deeply meaningful — and knowing her story continues to inspire people makes it even more special.”