Sterling Community Fund gala auction features local experiences, getaways

A fire-fighting flight experience, travel getaways, local services and family-friendly items will anchor the Sterling Community Fund’s Keys for Community gala, a live auction built around the kinds of packages that only Logan County businesses and families can put together. Organizers say the night is meant to turn hometown favorites into practical support for future projects across Sterling and the rest of the county.

The gala is set for May 30 at the Logan County Fairgrounds Exhibit Center. Doors will open at 5 p.m., the event is scheduled to run until 10:30 p.m., and steak dinner service is listed for 5:30 p.m. on one event page and 6 p.m. on another listing. The live auction will begin at 7 p.m., followed by dueling pianos and dancing at 7:30 p.m.

The Sterling Community Fund is an endowment created by local residents to provide lasting support for projects that make Logan County a better place to live, raise a family, establish a business and retire. The fund now holds more than $3.5 million in assets and has already helped pay for Heritage Park, the city’s hiking trails and overhead lighting at the Logan County Fairgrounds indoor arena.

Future priorities listed by the fund include a community center, a children’s splash park, expanded hiking and biking trails, green space and public art. The fund also said distributions may be used as matching funds to help unlock private donations or outside grants, stretching local dollars further on projects that can improve public access and quality of life.

The gala’s broad reach is reflected in the people behind it. It is organized through the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado and NoCo Foundation, with John Chapdelaine coordinating and an event committee that includes Caitlin Baseggio, JoAnn Gilliland, Lyndsey King, Jordan Suter, Clayton Unrein and Lyndsay Weingardt. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 gala were already sold out, underscoring the level of backing already in place.

Logan County commissioners also considered a special events liquor license for the May 30 fundraiser at their March 3 meeting, a reminder that the event is a formal countywide gathering tied closely to local institutions. Auction-item donations were due April 3, and all items must be received by May 25, leaving the final stretch for donated packages that will help decide how much the fund can send back into Logan County.