Friends of Lake Panorama will host its fifth Beach Ball fundraiser Friday, July 22, at Lake Panorama National. The format for the event will be similar to previous years, with seating available either in the LPN banquet room or outside under tents between the conference center and the golf course.
Plans are being developed, including pricing for table sponsorships and admission tickets. Event registration will begin in May. Funds will be raised with a 50/50 raffle, plus both live and silent auctions. Items for the auctions are being accepted now. Those interested in donating auction items for the 2022 Beach Ball can email staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.
The Friends of Lake Panorama seven-member volunteer board will meet April 25 to finalize plans for the 2022 Beach Ball. They also will discuss how profits from the event will be used. Projects chosen by the Friends board to promote at the Beach Ball will receive a percentage of pooled funds raised, plus all direct donations designated to a specific project.
One possible option is a basketball half-court at Sunset Beach. Mark and Karen Einck, who matched donations of $25,000 for the Boulder Beach basketball court, have pledged to match up to $20,000 for the Sunset Beach court. A goal of $40,000 has been set for this project.
A task force made up of both Friends board members and additional volunteers from the community is developing a proposal for recreational amenities on Lake Panorama’s South Shore. The proposal will be presented to the LPA board this spring, and is expected to include a disc golf course and walking trail, with additional amenities also considered. If approved by the LPA board, projects on the south shore could receive some 2022 Beach Ball profits.
The 2021 Beach Ball had a profit of $25,000. At that time, donations for the Lake Panorama dog park stood at $45,000. The Friends board voted to provide another $5,000 from the Beach Ball proceeds to reach the $50,000 goal.
Another $5,000 raised at the 2021 Beach Ball is being used for enhancements to an existing trail near Panorama West, with work planned this spring. Three swings will be added to the Sunset Beach playground this spring, using $8,000 raised at last year’s Beach Ball.
The Friends board voted last fall to hold the remaining $7,000 in reserve until these three projects are complete, in case costs increase beyond what has been budgeted. If the funds are not needed for any of these three projects, the money will be applied to a new project.
Tax-deductible donations can be made at any time by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends of Lake Panorama, PO Box 488, Panora, IA 50216. Donations also can be made using VENMO @Panorama-Friends, or by credit card on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org.