The Stano Bustos Memorial Foundation was founded as a tribute to an outstanding Red Lodge citizen, Edward Stanley (Stano) Bustos, who passed away Saturday November 10th 2007 at the age of 56. Stano’s greatest passion was his music, he loved to perform and had for many years with a local group of guys know as the Hound Dogs From Outer Space and a few gigs with Billy Waldo and the Flying Grizzlies along with some of his infamous trio and duo work. Stano had a knack for performing and reaching out to the people in what his friends referred to as the “Stano JuJu”. Whenever he was on his way to a performance his friends fondly remember his notable and endearing saying, “Gotta Gig! Gotta Go!”
Stano loved his community and friends and he loved Red Lodge, Montana. Stano has touched people from all over the world who have come to Red Lodge. He was like an ambassador to the community. No matter where he traveled, people always remembered Stano. He participated in almost every event that helped our youth and our town. Skiing was a great passion of Stano’s as well as golf and any event that related to either. Stano was always willing to lend a hand. As many young people in our community will tell you, he was always willing to give them some “Stano” direction that sometimes consisted of a good stern talk or a helping hand.
The Stano Bustos Memorial Foundation was formed as a community non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to giving back to the Red Lodge community, with a focus on local youth as they pursue their athletic, arts and academic endeavors. The foundation believes that it is very important to help the Red Lodge community focus on keeping Stano’s traditions alive and working for the community itself. Through the individual, corporate and private donations and events such as the annual Stano Bustos Gotta Gig Gotta Go golf tournament and concert the foundation has been able to fund many necessary local needs here are just a few.
- Local scholarships to graduating High School Seniors.
- Silver Run Ski Foundation
- Helped cover the funeral expenses for Elizabeth Shirley and Madeline White.
- Playground Equipment at the Red Lodge Softball and Baseball fields.
- Helped the Boys & Girls Club of Red Lodge purchase equipment and their Community Youth Athletic Fund.
- Donated on behalf of the Denise Grove Memorial to the Beartooth Hospital and Health Center.
2009 was another great year as we have been able to increase the scholarship funds to $2000.00 in local scholarships as well as a $1000.00 set aside for child services for the Red Lodge community to help with essential needs for our youth. We hosted the 2009 Stano Bustos Memorial Gotta Gig Gotta Go Golf tournament and concert on July 25th and 26th, it was a great success. We are very pleased to update everyone on the recent donations made to the Red lodge School Of Dance to sponsor two students for a total of $800.00 in scholarships. $2000 dollars for the Boys and Girls Club kayak program. This year we are donating $1000.00 to the Red Lodge Skate Park for improvements. We are very proud to be able to give $1000.00 to the Red lodge High School Band program to help start a Stano Bustos Memorial Band, this donation will help purchase some recording equipment as well as amplifiers and equipment needed to put together an actual performing band. $500.00 went to Red Lodge Youth Soccer, it’s all about giving our youth opportunity and support. We have other projects that we are working on as well so stay tuned and drop in often. Thanks for all of your support and donations for the Red Lodge community, all this wouldn’t be possible without it. Here is to an awesome 2010 and remember we need you to Keep the Ju Ju Flowin!
Send Donations to Stanley “Stano” Bustos Memorial Foundation
PO Box 1310 Red Lodge, Montana 59068