About Us

In 2007 Mended Hearts, Inc., Chapter 127 member, Pharoah Smithers, offered to construct a Christmas Parade Float in the Annual Cookeville Christmas Parade. The parade draws the largest crowd of any Christmas parade in the Upper Cumberlands. In addition, WCTE-TV in Cookeville video records the parade and then broadcasts it to a TV audience of over 200,000. It is a great way to introduce Chapter 127 to a larger public that may not be familiar with Mended Hearts and its purpose.

Starting from scratch and very little budget (private contributions, only), Pharoah designed and constructed a Mended Hearts, Chapter 127 themed Christmas float and began what has become a regular tradition and event. The first year, the Chapter received an "Honorable Mention" in its parade category. Building on that experience, in 2008 Pharoah used the idea of using two of Chapter 127's heart transplant members on a float dealing with the "Gift of Life" to be consistent with a parade theme of "Unwrap The Magic Of Christmas." The float placed 3rd in its category of all the floats entered. You can watch the entire 2008 Christmas Parade in Cookeville presented by WCTE-TV by clicking on this link.

In 2009, two separate floats were entered to coincide with different parade themes in Cookeville, Algood, and Monterey in Putnam County and Sparta, in White County. One of the themed Christmas floats placed 2nd in the Cookeville parade and the other won 1st Place in the Monterey parade. Pharoah has increased the overall quality of the Chapter float every year and the viewing crowds, both on parade evening and through re-broadcasts on WCTE-TV.

It would be easier, but still a lot of work, to build a Christmas parade float even if money was available to purchase materials and pay for labor. Since Chapter 127 uses all its raised or donated funds solely for the purpose of "mending hearts," Pharoah's challenge each year is to produce the best float possible for as little money as possible, using discarded and donated materials and volunteer labor (mostly his). With at least an encouraging support from Chapter members, Pharoah has his sights set on No. 1. Just wait until next year!