For generations, Bedford residents have benefited from scholarships, community projects, local events, and volunteer efforts made possible by the Bedford Rotary Club. This year, the organization celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 100 years of service to Bedford and beyond.
Founded in 1926, the Bedford Rotary Club has united business, professional, and community leaders around a common purpose—improving lives through Rotary’s enduring motto, “Service Above Self.” As part of Rotary International, the club shares a mission of providing service, promoting integrity, and advancing goodwill through fellowship and community involvement.
Over the past century, Bedford Rotarians have played an important role in the community. The club has supported programs including Bedford City Schools’ Safety Town, Shop with a Cop, Southeast Clergy Meals on Wheels, Coats for Kids, the Bedford Recreation Program, and the Bedford Historical Society. Every year, Rotary also provides dictionaries to Bedford third-grade students and has recognized local student achievement through scholarships and academic programs. Through the Bedford Rotary Foundation alone, more than $150,000 in scholarships has been awarded to area students.
Many familiar Bedford traditions and landmarks have also benefited from Rotary’s support, including the Bedford Rotary Rib Burn-Off Festival, the Railroad Depot deck on Bedford Square, Warren Miller Court at Bedford High School, and the clocks on Bedford Square and at City Hall.
While the club’s impact is felt throughout Bedford, its service extends around the world. Through Rotary International, members support initiatives that promote peace, fight disease through the PolioPlus program, improve access to clean water, strengthen education, protect the environment, and help communities in need.
As the Bedford Rotary Club begins its second century, its mission remains unchanged. New members continue to carry forward a tradition that has strengthened the community for 100 years through volunteerism, leadership, and a commitment to helping others.
The community is invited to help support the Bedford Rotary Club’s mission by attending the Bedford Rotary Rib Burn-Off Festival, taking place July 17–19. The annual fundraiser helps make many of the club’s scholarships, programs, and community projects possible while bringing residents together for a weekend of great food and fellowship. Those who are inspired by Rotary’s century of service are also encouraged to learn more about becoming a member and joining a tradition that continues to make a difference in Bedford.
For a century, the Bedford Rotary Club has demonstrated that when people come together with a shared purpose, the impact can last for generations. Guided by Service Above Self, the club’s legacy continues to shape Bedford today—and will undoubtedly continue for years to come.
