Fort Worth Sister Cities
Mayor Mattie Parker addresses the more than 400 in attendance.
Mayor Mattie Parker and dinner chairs Joanne and David Campbell led a crowd of more than 400 through an evening of international cuisine and entertainment at the Fort Worth Sister Cities International’s Mayor’s International Dinner & Global Awards last week at the Fort Worth Convention Center Ballroom.
Sister Cities celebrated its 35-year relationship with Trier, Germany, at the 26th annual event. Trier is one of nine Fort Worth Sister Cities, an enterprise begun in the 1980s under the City Council led by Mayor Bob Bolen, one of our 173 great Fort Worthians who shaped a city.
As part of the festivities, Global Awards were presented to individuals, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to citizen diplomacy, global understanding, world political stability, and international commerce in the following categories:
Elyse Dickerson & Joe Griffin, co-founders of Eosera, were presented the Global Entrepreneurship Award, an award created to recognize a trailblazing business based on their vision to achieve their goals and to promote Fort Worth globally, developing international partnerships and establishing global connections to provide understanding of other cultures.
I’ve met them through good fortune. Read here. Good people, Dickerson and Griffin. We’re lucky to have them.
The Fort Worth Zoo was selected for the Global Citizens Award, which recognizes organizations that are connected globally and are good representatives of Fort Worth. The winner of this award creates a positive view of the U.S. through educational, humanitarian or cultural initiatives. Our zoo is all of that. And if you haven’t seen the zoo’s newest family member, you must. That new little family of western lowland gorillas will turn a foul mood to joy in an instant.
Mrs. Renfro’s, come on down. They were presented the Global Nexus Award, which recognizes businesses that are connected globally and are good representatives of Fort Worth to the world by creating commerce and a healthier community for all. And they also make a damned tasty salsa.
Jacques Marquis, the president and CEO of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, was chosen for Sister Cities' Global Impact Award. The Cliburn successfully hosted its 16th event this year — Yunchan Lim blew them all away at Bass Hall on a June Friday night few will ever forget. This award is based on an individual’s role in promoting Fort Worth globally, developing international partnerships, and establishing connections, particularly in the areas of business, culture, education, immigration, and tourism.
A toast of Fort Worth-made TX Whiskey — with just a splash of water — to all of those winners.
According to Sister Cities, the event was made possible by the Fort Worth Sister Cities Members Circle of Giving, a network of individuals, organizations, corporations, and community leaders committed to expanding global relationships for peace and prosperity at home and abroad. Funding and in-kind support from the city of Fort Worth (4% of Sister Cities’ budget) play a key role in its mission, but most of its work is made possible through public support.
Entertainment was provided by performers from the TCU Opera Studio, along with Alan Walling for a finale of German toasts and accordion music.