Tournament of Roses and Nonprofit Sycamores Plant Tree of Unity

To celebrate National Arbor Day as well as 120 years of service to the community, Sycamores planted a tree on the grounds of Tournament House, the home of the Tournament of Roses, on Friday.

Sycamores, based in Pasadena, is a behavioral health and child welfare agency, creating programs and services which serve some of the most vulnerable children, young adults, adults and families in the community.

The organization provides programs across Los Angeles, spanning the San Fernando, San Gabriel, and Antelope Valleys, as well as in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, serving nearly 16,000 Californians facing serious life challenges each year.

The group also provided wellness support to the members of the 2022 Rose Parade Court

“This rose garden is an example of the giving spirit in Pasadena,” said 2023 Tournament of Roses President Amy Wainscott. As Wainscott explained, the Wrigley family presented the Tournament House property to the city of Pasadena with the request that it become the base of operations for the Tournament of Roses.

“Today,” she said, “We can only dream that the Rowlands and the Wrigleys stroll down our street, not knowing that 120 years later, their generosity planted the seeds that would join Sycamores and the Tournament of Roses.”

2022 Tournament of Roses Princess Jaeda Walden also spoke about the value of the work of Sycamores, and how it affected her own life over the past year.

The Sycamores’ rich history began in 1902 when Fannie Rowland – a civic-minded, caring resident of Pasadena – founded the City of Roses’ first orphanage. Originally named the Pasadena Children’s Training Society, the orphanage was housed in a two-story, Craftsman bungalow at the corner of Wilson Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard, according to the organization.

As Southern California’s child-welfare system grew, so too did The Sycamores.

In 1967, the agency opened a residential treatment center in Altadena – a therapeutic home away from home where severely challenged youngsters could receive nurturing, healing care.

2021 saw the organization officially change the agency name to Sycamores from its previous name, Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services.

Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services had resulted from the merger of Hathaway Children & Family Services and The Sycamores in 2005. Each organization brought with it roots reaching back many decades.