“Our community is large and wildly diverse, which is at the same time our strength and our weakness. #Activate10 is a movement seeking to increase communication between individuals and organizations across Fremont County and to promote positive action in our communities.”
(Riverton, WY) – The Fremont County Law Enforcement Foundation (FCLEF) is now in its second year in supporting all of the county’s law enforcement officers and agencies, and invites the public to continue that support into the new year by attending their 2nd Annual Ballgowns & Badges gala coming up on Saturday, February 8 at the Chandelle Center in Riverton.
Ballgowns & Badges is FCLEF’s major annual fundraising event, where all the proceeds benefit the county’s law enforcement agencies throughout the year with much-needed items and elements such as equipment, tools, uniforms, trainings, and other associated agency costs.
The event will kick off with a social hour at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m. Live and silent auctions, raffles and other activities are planned. Tickets are $50 per person, or $800 for a corporate table, and can be purchased online via Zeffy, Venmo or Paypal on the website at FCLEF.org. (Formal or semi-formal attire encouraged, but not required.)
“It’s going to be bigger and better this year, for sure,” said FCLEF President Brett Johnson. “We’re going to have all kinds of really great things at the auction and we’re really looking forward to this new year. Last year we supplied all kinds of stuff to the local law enforcement, like chairs and food at community events that they have to patrol. So this year we’re really wanting everybody to come out.”
Besides providing six new squad room chairs and AED pads for the Riverton Police Department, FCLEF has also funded the Dubois PD with equipment holsters, helped in funding WYDCI Northwest Enforcement’s DCI training, delivered items and snacks for all law enforcement agencies, and provided some meals for the Fremont County DUI Task Force and food vouchers for officers on duty at community events such as the Fremont County Fair and Riverton’s Friday Night Cruise.
FCLEF also recently partnered with GoRiverton and 11-year-old Melody McLeod’s “Adopt A Cop” project in gathering donations for RPD officers during the holidays.
“I think that the funding of the AED and equipment holsters were some of the grants I was happy to see,” said FCLEF’s treasurer Becky Kenyon. “It’s easy to not realize how important things like those are to law enforcement and they aren’t necessarily in the budget. I also think the new squad room chairs Riverton got were also pretty awesome. These are things that are needed, but tend to be on the back burner of budgets.”
Individuals or businesses who would like to donate items for Ballgowns & Badges live and silent auctions and raffles can find information on the FCLEF website or email fclefwyoming@gmail.com.
“I think we broke a lot of barriers last year, and it’s definitely because of our team,” Johnson said. “I think because of the hard workers we have on the board and the generosity of the community, we were successful beyond what we imagined in 2024. I believe it was because of our communities and how they support law enforcement that made all the difference.”
For more information, visit the FCLEF website, or follow their Facebook page at facebook.com/fclefwyoming.