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CareOregon is proud to once again serve as the title sponsor for the Starlight Parade!  A beloved Portland tradition since 1976, the Starlight Parade provides a space to come together and celebrate the positive impact of connected communities. 

This year, CareOregon will light up the streets of downtown Portland on Saturday, May 31, with our vibrant float, "Celebrating Cultures, Building Health Equity." The float will feature a unique hand-built, larger-than-life, brightly colored alebrijes llama to celebrate Latin American heritage and culture.  

Alebrijes are fantastical folk art sculptures celebrated throughout Mexico and abroad. Originally imagined by renowned indigenous Mexican artist Pedro Linares (1906-1992), today, alebrijes art continues to dazzle and evolve through cultural celebrations and events like Dia de los Muertos. The llama is a popular animal in Latin American cultures and a Portland-area staple, making an alebrijes llama the perfect icon for this year’s parade. Our lively float reflects the vibrancy of our diverse community, which we have been proud to support for more than 30 years. 

Celebrating culture alongside Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center & Foundation 

This year, we are thrilled to announce that Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center & Foundation (Virginia Garcia) will be our Starlight Parade community partner.  

"We're excited to partner with such a terrific organization for this year's Starlight Parade," said Eric C. Hunter, President and CEO of CareOregon. "Virginia Garcia's work reminds us that health care should be accessible to everyone - regardless of income, social factors, race, language or immigration status. We couldn't ask for a better partner to help us bring Portland together at the Starlight Parade." 

Virginia Garcia is currently celebrating 50 years of providing high-quality and culturally appropriate health care with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farmworkers. In addition to offering integrated health care services, like primary care, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services, Virginia Garcia also serves as a model for effective community-based care. The organization operates two mobile clinics that bring care directly to communities in Washington and Yamhill counties –– serving people where they live, work and gather. These mobile units help remove barriers to accessing care by meeting people where they are and providing medical supplies, food and necessities to those in need. 

Our parade partnership builds on more than 20 years of connection. Virginia Garcia provides care for many CareOregon members and others on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), as well as those who are uninsured. Over time, that partnership has evolved into several ongoing programs and initiatives like the Primary Care Investment Fund (PCIF) and Share Accountability Model (SAM). 

"We are a community health center - but we go beyond just providing medical care," said Stefanny Caballero, Executive Director of Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation. "We host community events, wellness classes like Zumba and all-abilities yoga, cooking demonstrations in our on-site test kitchens, and more. We also support patients in accessing resources like our Pharmacy Copay and Cost-Assistance program, medication delivery, and Patient Support Flex Fund. We believe that health expands beyond the walls of an exam room." 

Virginia Garcia's float will feature an alebrijes butterfly, a nod to migrant agricultural workers and Monarch butterflies who share similar seasonal rhythms. In addition to participating in the Starlight parade, the organization is also being featured in a special exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society to highlight their 50-years of service, from May 2 - August 3. 

An event for everyone 

In 2022, CareOregon proudly became the title sponsor of the Starlight Parade, allowing us to connect with our communities and celebrate the diverse organizations that make Portland unique. The Starlight Parade draws over 300,000 spectators each year, making it one of the city's most anticipated events. 

“Events like the Starlight Parade are a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with our members, celebrate the diverse cultures within our community and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to health equity,” said Jeremiah Rigsby, CareOregon’s Chief of Staff. “We are proud to support this eclectic, creative parade that brings together Oregonians from all walks of life to celebrate each other and Portland.” 

Join us at the Starlight Parade 

The Starlight Parade continues a longtime festival tradition from the early 1900s, when illuminated floats built on electric trolley cars made their way through the city on trolley tracks. Today, participants light up the night with approximately 100 illuminated entries, including twinkling floats, drill teams and marching bands, creating a magical experience for all ages. 

CareOregon CareSteppers, our in-house parade dance team, will groove to iconic tunes and show off their well-rehearsed choreography. Along with our CareSteppers, we will be joined in the festivities by the Hillsboro High School marching band. 

Don't miss the fun on Saturday, May 31! Together, we can make health care work para todos (for everyone)!