A Valley champion of small business is being honored by a scholarship fund reflecting his passion for helping people.
The Doug Davidian Memorial Micro-enterprise Scholarship Fund will help people who want to start their own sole-proprietorship small business to access training through Fresno Pacific University’s Center for Community Transformation (CCT). Selected micro-businesses may also qualify for small start-up investments.
Those receiving scholarships will participate in Launch Central Valley, a nine-week CCT program covering topics including marketing, sales and loans as well as how to deal with attorneys, accountants and government officials. Instruction comes from area business practitioners, and Davidian was a presenter and coach in the program who walked alongside participants, some with significant barriers. In fact, Davidian proposed just such a fund. Make a contribution at https://app.mobilecause.com/form/FFRfsQ?vid=i5n73
Davidian, who died April 11, 2021, founded California Business Furnishings, Desk Chairs & More and Contract Interiors in Fresno. He served as president of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and on the boards of Read Fresno, Kepler School, Clovis Unified School District, One by One Leadership, Fresno Business Council and Community Medical Centers.
His enthusiasm for entrepreneurship was contagious. “Doug knew that business is a significant tool in the hand of God for the well-being of families and communities. He was joyful, a man of faith, who persevered through difficulty, who knew both the sting of failure and the beauty of redemption and hope,” said Randy White, D.Min., CCT executive director.