A special presentation at the Escalon City Council meeting on Monday night, June 17 saw $500 donated to the police department’s Explorer Post, courtesy of the Dennis Wallace Foundation.

Known as “DW 61” – the Foundation was formed in memory and honor of the late Dennis Wallace, a longtime Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department deputy, Badge #61, who died in the line of duty in November, 2016.

His brother Dave Wallace was among those presenting the oversized check to Escalon Police Chief Mike Borges on Monday night.

Wallace explained that a golf tournament started in his brother’s memory has passed the $50,000 mark in fundraising and that has allowed them to start making donations to a variety of youth groups and programs around the region.

In Escalon, the Police Department’s Explorer Post benefited with the $500 donation and the Escalon Youth Center also received funds – $2,800 – to help provide scholarships for several area youngsters to attend summer camp. Escalon’s Explorer Post, meanwhile, is one of eight around the area that will be getting funds from the Foundation.

“People have been very generous with their support,” Wallace told the council and those attending the Monday night meeting.

He added that his brother spent 20 years working with youth in the Stanislaus-San Joaquin area and Foundation board members want to support youth groups now through the memorial golf tournament proceeds.

This year’s event – the third annual – is scheduled for Aug. 19 at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club; go to denniswallacegolf.com for more information or to sign up for the tournament. The day of golf begins with registration at 9 a.m. and a shotgun start at 11 a.m.