FTD Features a Record-Breaking Collection of Springtime Flowers on Its 54th Rose Parade Float Entry 'Jewels of Nature'

FTD Features a Record-Breaking Collection of Springtime Flowers on Its 54th Rose Parade Float Entry 'Jewels of Nature'

Float Riders Include Singer Marie Osmond and Children's Miracle Network Patients

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Florists' Transworld Delivery, Inc. (FTD), a leading provider of floral products and services, is celebrating its 54th year of partnership with the Tournament of Roses(R) at the 2007 Rose Parade(R) presenting a breathtaking float featuring the largest collection of springtime flowers ever featured in the history of the long-running parade.

In addition to a record-breaking amount of spring flowers, FTD is joining forces with Children's Miracle Network -- the alliance of premier hospitals for children. Marie Osmond, the co-founder of Children's Miracle Network and three children from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles will proudly ride the FTD float, "Jewels of Nature." Marie and the children's presence on the float represent the millions of families whose lives are touched by the good-willed employees and donors of the Children's Miracle Network.

In honor of the 2007 Rose Parade's theme "Our Good Nature," FTD is helping to spread the message of good-willed acts through the web site www.FTD.COM/CMN, where 15% of each product purchased will be donated to the Children's Miracle Network. In addition to the main web site, FTD also hosts over 35 web sites for individual children's hospitals throughout the U.S.

FTD's 54th Float Entry

FTD's 54th Rose Parade float entry, "Jewels of Nature," celebrates nature's renewal and the rebirth of spring with brilliantly decorated butterflies, hummingbirds, caterpillars and spectacular floral gardens. Thirty-five lively butterflies with wingspans up to 13 feet form an overhead canopy above a brilliantly hued floral garden with over 45,000 roses. The abundant garden also overflows with an assortment of tulips, daffodils, iris, lily of the valley, calla lilies, hydrangea, peony, delphinium, snapdragons and more.

Decor for the Tournament of Roses

As the Official Floral Company of the Tournament of Roses, FTD donates hundreds of thousands of flowers to the events surrounding the Rose Parade to help bring to life the historic events. These flowers are seen starting with the announcement of the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade and the announcement of the competing Rose Bowl Game(R) teams. FTD also spreads cheer throughout the Wrigley Mansion, the home to the Tournament of Roses, with exquisite holiday decor.

In addition, FTD also sponsors the decoration of the official cars, which carry the President of the Tournament of Roses, the Grand Marshal of the Parade and the Mayor of Pasadena down the parade route. In preparing for the 2007 Rose Parade, FTD brings well-known Netherlands designer Els Hazenberg and FTD Design Instructor J. Keith White to Pasadena to decorate the official cars in the Parade and FTD's 54th float entry "Jewels of Nature."

About FTD Group, Inc.

FTD Group, Inc. is a leading provider of floral-related products and services to consumers and retail florists, as well as other retail locations offering floral products, in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The business is supported by the highly recognized FTD and Interflora brands. Both brands utilize the Mercury Man logo, which is displayed in approximately 50,000 floral shops globally. The consumer businesses operate primarily through the www.ftd.com Web site in the U.S. and Canada and the www.interflora.co.uk Web site in the U.K. and are complemented by the florist businesses which provide products and services to our independent members.

About Children's Miracle Network

Children's Miracle Network-the alliance of premier hospitals for children- is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medial care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of children overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. To learn more go to www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org.

Source: FTD

CONTACT: Megan Buchanan of FTD, +1-630-724-6540 (office),
+1-630-699-7088 (cell), mbuchanan@ftdi.com

Web site: http://www.ftd.com/
http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Marie Osmond will be available for interviews on Monday, January 1 from 6:30 - 8:00 am

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