Philip DeBerard Family Foundation Wins Judges Choice Award at 2025 Stuart Christmas Parade with Viral “Grandma Got Run Over By a Brightline” Float
The Philip DeBerard Family Foundation, a community-focused nonprofit based in Stuart, Florida, captured statewide attention this holiday season after winning Judges Choice and the Large Float Classic Christmas Award at the Visiting Nurse Association of Florida Stuart Christmas Parade with its unforgettable and crowd-pleasing float titled “Grandma Got Run Over By a Brightline.”
Presented during the annual Visiting Nurse Association of Florida 2025 Stuart Christmas Parade, the float featured a humorous, safety-themed holiday scene inspired by the classic Christmas song, reimagined with a modern Florida twist involving a Brightline train. The creative display earned loud cheers from spectators and top honors from parade judges.
The float has since gone viral across Florida, with photos widely shared by Florida Man on Instagram, as well as on popular Facebook pages including The Space Coast Rocket, Stuart Locals, and Florida Memes. The story also gained major regional media coverage when TCPalm published a feature on the float’s impact and popularity.
“We wanted to create something fun, memorable, and unmistakably Florida,” said Philip DeBerard. “The response has been overwhelming. Seeing our float make people laugh while also raising awareness around train safety has been incredibly rewarding.”
The VNA Stuart Christmas Parade is one of the Treasure Coast’s most beloved holiday traditions, drawing thousands of spectators each year while supporting vital community health programs.
The Philip DeBerard Family Foundation is a Florida-based nonprofit organization dedicated to giving back to local communities through charitable outreach, safety education, family-focused initiatives, and support for community-driven causes. The foundation actively partners with local organizations, schools, and nonprofits to help improve quality of life, promote public awareness, and provide meaningful resources where they are needed most. Through creative engagement, volunteerism, and grassroots involvement, the foundation works to make a lasting, positive impact across the communities it serves.
For more information about the foundation, visit deberardfamilyfoundation.org. For more information about the VNA Christmas Parade, visit stuartchristmasparade.com.
Media Contact
Company Name: Philip DeBerard Family Foundation
Contact Person: Michelle Miller
Email: Send Email
Phone: 800-299-8878
Address:900 SE Ocean Blvd Suite F150
City: Stuart
State: Florida
Country: United States
Website: https://deberardfamilyfoundation.org/
