Friends and supporters of Sycamores and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses joined together on April 29th (Arbor Day) for a special tree planting ceremony at the Tournament House.
The occasion was in honor of Sycamores’ 120th Anniversary and our shared history with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses.
Sycamores Board Chair John Drinker welcomed guests to the event before Sycamores President and CEO Debra Manners gave a brief account of the relationship between the two organizations.
The two highly esteemed Pasadena organizations have shared historic ties in the community, dating back to the creation of Sycamores as Pasadena’s first orphanage in 1902. The Pasadena Children’s Training Society, later named Sycamores, was established by Fannie Rowland, the wife of Dr. Francis F. Rowland, a founder of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the first Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade® in 1890. More recently, Sycamores has partnered with the Tournament of Roses by providing wellness support to members of the 2022 Royal Court. According to Manners, “Planting a sycamore tree at the Tournament House symbolizes both our shared past and our new growth into the future.”
After the ceremony, guests mingled and enjoyed the beautiful Friday afternoon with refreshments in the rose garden.