How a Pandemic-Era Idea Reached 1.2 Million Rotarians
What began as a local idea during the pandemic eventually became a feature in Rotary International magazine, reaching 1.2 million Rotarians in 200 countries.
In 2020, the Rotary Club of Fort Worth recognized two realities. Minority-owned businesses were being disproportionately harmed by COVID-19, and our club did not include as many members of color as it should. Rather than treating those facts as separate problems, we created a values-based competition that could recognize outstanding minority-owned businesses while strengthening relationships across the Fort Worth community.
Five years later, the program had grown into an established tradition. We renamed the competition in honor of our late friend Richard L. Knight, a longtime champion of the annual Minority Business Awards. His family joined us, and his son offered a moving tribute to a life defined by service and encouragement.
That year, 125 businesses were nominated and six were recognized. Deborah Ferguson of NBC5 once again helped make the celebration meaningful.
The larger lesson is that community initiatives do not need to begin at national scale. They need to begin with an honest understanding of the problem and a group of people willing to act. A program created during a crisis can become durable when it reflects shared values, produces real relationships, and continues learning.
Recognition alone does not solve every barrier facing entrepreneurs. It can, however, make good work visible, open networks, and signal that a community values contributions that may previously have been overlooked.
Seeing the program featured in Rotary’s international magazine was deeply rewarding. The reach was remarkable, but the purpose remained local and personal: honor excellence, expand opportunity, and continue the work Richard believed in.
I think he would be proud.
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