Grant funds upgrades to Beefy Lawson rink
The $100,000 grant from Blandin Foundation honors a gathering place, the memory of Beefy Lawson and his son’s decades of community giving
Key Points
- Blandin Foundation awarded $100,000 to improve Taconite’s Beefy Lawson & Vince Saleture Memorial Rink, with work planned for summer 2027.
- The grant preserves a gathering place for children and families while honoring Beefy Lawson’s memory and his son Bob Lawson’s decades of community service and giving.
- The award reflects the Greenway area’s growing ability to meet local needs through community-created and community-led philanthropy.
TACONITE, Minn. — A $100,000 grant from Blandin Foundation will help the city of Taconite improve the Beefy Lawson & Vince Saleture Memorial Rink, preserving a place where generations of children have learned to skate and neighbors have gathered through long Minnesota winters.
The announcement coincides with the 45th anniversary of the death of Robert “Beefy” Lawson, an Itasca County sheriff’s deputy killed in the line of duty on Oct. 29, 1981. The grant also honors his son Bob Lawson’s decades of commitment to Taconite and the Greenway area through the Beefy Lawson Memorial Fund and, later, the Greenway Area Community Fund.
Planned improvements include an addition to the warming shack, youth-sized hockey nets, and repairs and upgrades to the rink boards, foundations and fencing. City staff will oversee the work, scheduled for summer 2027, when the rink is not in use.
“Kids from all of the surrounding towns would come here to skate because Taconite has always been known to the community as having the best outdoor ice around,” said Ryan Troumbly, Taconite mayor. “Thanks to the Blandin Foundation grant, these improvements will help us restore a place that means so much to us and our history, and keep it ready for the next generation of skaters and families.”
The project reflects Blandin Foundation’s rural placemaking focus: supporting places and experiences that help people feel connected, invested and proud of where they live. Caring for an existing gathering place also reflects founder Charles K. Blandin’s commitment to the long-term strength of the Grand Rapids and Itasca County region.
“A community rink gives kids a place to play and families a reason to spend time together,” said Linda Gibeau, Blandin Foundation’s program officer for small communities. “That’s what placemaking looks like in everyday life. Bob’s years of service and giving back to the Greenway communities have made many opportunities for young people to feel connected to their communities, and we are so glad we can honor his leadership in community this way.”
For Bob Lawson, the rink brings together memories of his father and of skating just around the corner from his house.
“The hockey rink has always been the heart of the community,” Lawson said. “It’s where Taconite shines and the nicknames are born. This donation will help build on the legacy, so the memories will continue to support the Taconite pride and impact future generations.”
Care for young people has carried forward through the Greenway area’s community philanthropy. The Beefy Lawson Memorial Fund supported youth recreation projects across the area for more than 30 years. When it dissolved in 2018, it transferred its remaining resources to the Greenway Area Community Fund with the stipulation that youth activities remain a priority. That gift helped the Greenway fund earn a full $200,000 match available for an earlier Blandin Foundation initiative.
Today, local residents help guide the Greenway fund’s grants, with the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation managing its permanent endowment. A separate $250,000 Blandin Foundation grant announced this month brings that endowment above $1 million, expanding its ability to support community priorities for years to come.
The rink improvements and the growth of local philanthropy reflect the same community commitment: caring for places people value while building the resources and local leadership to meet future needs.
About Greenway Area Community Fund
Established in 2017, the Greenway Area Community Fund is dedicated to strengthening communities and improving quality of life throughout the Greenway Area. Guided by a volunteer advisory board representing local cities and townships, the Fund supports charitable projects and initiatives that address community needs, with a special emphasis on youth opportunities and well-being. Through local generosity and an endowed fund designed to provide lasting support, the Greenway Area Community Fund invests in programs that bring people together, build community pride, and create a positive impact for generations to come. To learn more or make a donation, visit greenwayareacommunityfund.com.
Media Contact
Kim Venema
Lawrence Township Representative
218-259-1771
kimberly@lawrencelakeco.com
About Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity that connects donors with opportunities to strengthen communities throughout Itasca County and the surrounding area. Through charitable giving, the Foundation supports local needs, invests in important causes, and helps create lasting positive impact. For more information, visit gracf.org.
Media Contact
Kelly Shreve
Development and Communications Manager
218-999-9100
Kelly.shreve@gracf.org
About Blandin Foundation
Blandin Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. One of a handful of rural-based, rural-serving foundations in the country, Blandin Foundation serves rural Minnesota, focusing resources in north-central Minnesota. Its grants, leadership development programs and policy work build financial and human capital so rural communities can welcome diversity, address injustice, and create a sustainable and equitable future. For more information, visit blandinfoundation.org
Media Contact
Jennifer Bevis
Senior Rural Advocacy Manager
218-256-3769
jmbevis@blandinfoundation.org
###