Rapid City’s Moose Lodge Receives Acts of Excellence Award

On the evening of Thursday, March 30th, Laurie Becvar, CEO of the SD Hall of Fame, and Brad Haupt, Board Director of Rapid City presented the Moose Lodge of Rapid City with its prestigious Act of Excellence Award for their work with bringing Hot Wheels fun to people of all ages and for donating proceeds to other great causes in the community. Mr. Tim West, President of the Moose Lodge Board of Directors accepted the award on behalf of the Moose Lodge, and Mr. Buck Nelson and his wife were recognized and thanked for spearheading the project.

On a typical weekend afternoon, the community hall of the Moose Lodge is transformed into a Hot Wheels track. Families head out to the Moose Lodge to buy Hot Wheel cars for a dollar each, and then, they race them down the tracks for great, old-fashioned fun. The activity began when Buck Nelson and other volunteer Moose Lodge members enjoyed racing their cars together and they realized they could share the fund with the community and raise funds for good causes while they were at it.

One volunteer noted, “There was a group of us who were little boys at heart, and the wives supported the project too. We started racing Hot Wheels and we were having great fun with it here at the Moose Lodge.” Becvar noted that “Generations are now able to bond over a toy and a hobby, and the funds raised are put back into the community.” Proceeds go to different local groups, including Moose Lodge Charities.

The Moose Lodge was awarded under the SD Hall of Fame’s, Youth Category. There are six Acts of Excellence categories, they include, General, Education, Historical, Industry, Professions, and Inspiring Youth. 

The SD Hall of Fame is a statewide 501c3 organization designed to Inspire, Honor, and Educate; its mission is To Champion a Culture of Excellence. CEO Laurie Becvar shared, “one of the major ways we live out our mission is through the Act of Excellence Program where we recognize the stellar work of organizations, individuals, and community projects. “ Acts of Excellence was originally sponsored by Sanford Health and the Moose Lodge is among twelve distinguished awards in 2023. Applications for 2024 awards will be available on the SD Hall of Fame’s website in January and February of 2024, with awardees chosen and made in May and June of 2024.