PASADENA : Tournament Surpasses Goal for Minority Pacts

The Tournament of Roses, which has come under fire in recent years for its lack of minority and women members, has announced that 45% of the nonprofit organization’s contracts last fiscal year went to minorities and women.

The organization, which produces the annual Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game, spent $775,000 with businesses owned by women and minorities. It spent a total of $1.72 million last year. Officials say it easily surpassed its goal of doing 25% of its business with women and minority-owned businesses.

Of the 45% of association dollars going to women/minorities, women-owned firms got 36%, while minorities received 9%.

The tournament, responding to charges of discrimination last year, expanded its executive committee to include women and minorities.