Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball fundraiser held June 12

Special to the Times Vedette

The Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball fundraiser was held June 12 at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort. A buffet dinner featuring smoked beef brisket and pork loins was offered. Funds were raised through live and silent auctions plus other activities throughout the evening.

Friends of Lake Panorama is a nonprofit charity dedicated to improving recreational amenities at Lake Panorama. It was established in response to LPA members asking for ways they could give back to the Lake Panorama community with an estate gift or other tax-deductible donations. The IRS granted Friends 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in July 2014.

This was the ninth Beach Ball fundraiser since Friends of Lake Panorama was formed. In 2016 and 2017, $43,000 was raised to support the first two major projects Friends worked on — a destination playground at Sunset Beach and sports courts at Boulder Beach.

The next Beach Ball was in the fall of 2020, moved from earlier that year because of COVID restrictions. The event was held outdoors and raised $30,000. Similar results occurred each of the following years, sometimes a bit higher, sometimes lower. Funded projects have included playground improvements at all three beaches; sports courts at Sunset Beach; dog park; Panorama West Nature Trail enhancements; South Shore recreational area that includes trails, disc golf, benches, picnic shelter and a dock for lake access; more than 20 new benches at beaches and golf courses; trees planted at beaches and the lake’s west entrance; and several smaller projects.

Details on all past and current projects are available on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org. Friends of Lake Panorama also has a Facebook page.