First published in the June 16 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
Friends and supporters of Sycamores and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses joined together on Arbor Day for a special tree-planting ceremony at the Tournament House. The occasion was in honor of Sycamores’ 120th anniversary and its shared history and partnership 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.
“Planting a sycamore tree at the Tournament House symbolizes both our shared past and our new growth into the future,” Manners said.
Today, Sycamores, a leading behavioral health and child welfare agency based in Pasadena, provides innovative and effective programs and services for underserved children, young adults and families through a network of locations throughout Southern California.
“While much has changed during our 120 years, Sycamores’ unconditional, whatever-it-takes approach to care, has never wavered and continues to help individuals create a better life,” Manners said.
