Inaugural Gary Lalone Classic raises $5,500 for Storm Lake United

The inaugural Gary Lalone Classic Golf Outing brought in $5,500 for the Storm Lake United Foundation, giving the new effort an early financial boost and a clear test of whether it can become a reliable civic fundraiser in Buena Vista County. Held June 5, the outing drew golfers, sponsors, volunteers and community supporters for a day built around competition, memory and local investment.

That $5,500 is intended to do more than cover event costs. Storm Lake United says the foundation will strengthen local businesses and improve quality of life in Storm Lake and across Buena Vista County, and the money from the golf outing will help launch the foundation’s grant program, with applications expected to open this fall. The planned grants are aimed at projects such as building improvements, facade work, signage, equipment purchases and business expansion, the kind of visible investments that can change the look and function of commercial blocks.

The outing also added momentum to a bigger funding base already taking shape. Storm Lake United introduced the foundation at its April annual meeting, awards night and banquet, where it was presented as a tool to support small businesses, improve commercial districts and revitalize underused spaces. ISG has pledged $25,000 over five years to support the foundation, an initial commitment that gives the grant program a stronger start as organizers begin looking for projects with practical payoff.

The event carried a personal meaning as well. It was staged as a tribute to Gary Lalone, Storm Lake United’s first executive director, who died Aug. 6, 2021, at age 71. Lalone had already been honored in earlier Storm Lake United recognition, when his wife, Mishelle DeHart, and son Ryan Lalone accepted a memorial plaque at an awards night. Naming the outing for him tied the fundraiser to the organization’s own history and to the community-building role Lalone played in Storm Lake.

The golf outing also fits into a longer local pattern. Earlier versions were held at the Buena Vista University Golf Course at Lake Creek, including a 2021 event that drew 76 golfers, used a four-person team best-shot format and charged a $75 registration fee. With Storm Lake United facing financial pressure in recent years, including public deficit concerns in 2023, outside fundraising like the Gary Lalone Classic has become more important. If the outing returns annually, its value may come less from one afternoon’s total than from the steady stream of projects it can eventually help fund.