The first meeting of the Friends of Lake Panorama board of directors was held December 3, 2013. Over the past four years, the 501(c)3 nonprofit charity has made good progress towards its goal of improving recreational amenities at Lake Panorama.
“We want to thank everyone who has helped contribute to this progress by donating to Friends of Lake Panorama,” says Jan Reinicke, president of the Friends board. “It has taken private donations both large and small, plus ongoing cooperation and support from the Lake Panorama Association, to help us reach fundraising goals for sports courts at Boulder Beach and the Sunset Beach playground.”
Individual donations also have made it possible to do some smaller projects, such as a bench at Panorama West honoring Joe Scheiring, and new signage at both Panorama West and Lake Panorama National. A rain garden installed at Panorama West last spring involved some private donations, as well as cost-share funding from the Guthrie County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners.
Statistics show a high percentage of charitable contributions are made in the last few weeks of the year. “As we approach the end of 2017, we want to remind those who support our goal of improving recreational amenities at Lake Panorama to consider making a tax-deductible donation,” Reinicke says.
Friends raised $75,000 for the Boulder Beach sports courts project, which is being matched by the Lake Panorama Association. The LPA maintenance staff handled site preparation for the courts this fall. There will be a single tennis court, two pickleball courts and a single basketball court. The courts will be fenced and feature PowerGame sport surface tiles. Depending on spring weather conditions, construction is planned for April, with the courts open for play in May.
Donations for the sports courts project will be accepted until May 2018. Any final donations will be spent on additional expenses such as benches and signage. A sign listing donors of $500 or more will be installed near the project.
Besides the Boulder Beach sports courts fund, donations can be made to four other funds or a combination of funds. There is a general fund, plus funds for Shady Beach and Sunset Beach. There is a Golf Course Beautification fund, which allows donors to choose either Lake Panorama National or Panorama West. Money donated to this fund could be used for golf course landscaping, trees, sand trap improvements, pond riprap and benches.
Donors of $500 or more are recognized on the Friends website. All donors receive a letter of thanks as their receipt.
Donations can be made in someone’s memory or in honor of someone. For donations by check, clip the “coupon” from the full-page ad in the December Lake Panorama Times and mail it with a check to PO Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Or a donation form is available on the Friends website. Donations also can be accepted electronically on the website at www.friendsoflakepanorama.org.
Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) are welcome, and will be sold once transferred, with the proceeds deposited into the Friends bank account. A securities account has been established with GCSB Investment Center in Panora. Contact Kristen Crouthamel at kcrouthamel@ibasecurities.com.
Besides Reinicke, other volunteer members of the Friends board are Dave Furbush, Kim Lubeck, Bob McCleeary, Jody Muench, Emily Spradling and Tricia Steffen. Susan Thompson is executive director. Email questions to staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.