By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
For the eighth year in a row, the Lake Panorama National women’s league held a fundraiser to provide financial support for the Tori’s Angels Foundation. The foundation helps Iowa families who have children with life-threatening medical conditions.
The event was July 17, in place of league play, with $7,000 raised. There were 21 teams for a total of 84 golfers who competed in a four-gal best-shot tournament. Prizes were awarded to the top team in each of three flights. Winners of the first flight were Paula Schwabe, Amy Snowden, Caroline Walker and Tiana Tio.
Special events were held on the golf course with some designed to raise funds.
On the third hole, golfers could pay five dollars for a chance to have their name drawn in a 50-50 raffle. Players who hit their drive into the chalk image of a gift box were entered in the drawing. Only two got inside the chalk lines. Gloria Ahrendsen won the raffle on a coin toss and donated the money back for a total of $375 raised.
On the fifth hole, freewill donations bought golf shots over the pond to the green from Galen Redshaw, Jim Tibbles and Maddox Hammerstrom.
After golf, the group gathered for dinner provided by The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort. A silent auction was held with bidding on 40 donated items. The auction raised $3,690. A Birthday Challenge that encouraged donations for a person’s birthday month raised $686.
Julie Dent-Zajicek, chair of the Tori’s Angels Foundation board of directors, shared the foundation’s history. A community breakfast fundraiser was held in July 2010, hosted by the Panora United Methodist Church, to assist with the medical expenses of then-5-year-old Tori Heckman, who has had multiple heart surgeries since birth. The fundraiser was so successful the idea of a foundation to help other children was born.
Dent-Zajicek talked about the types of expenses the nonprofit covers for ill children. She said because of ongoing support, the foundation recently was able to accept its 184th sponsored child. In 2024, expenses were about $650,000. Expenses for 2025 are anticipated to be about $800,000.
Julie Tibbles and Sherri Miller co-chaired the event with another 11 volunteer committee members helping.
A 13-member committee planned and supported the July 17 fundraiser for Tori’s Angels. Back row, from the left: Nancy Clawson, Lori Hawley, Joan Trebon, Dawn Anderson, Jennifer Vanderpool. Front row: Deb Jorgensen, Lorrie Motsick, Sherri Miller, Mare Langel, Dee Eckley, Julie Tibbles. Not pictured: Kathy Moline and Shanell Wagler.
Forty donated items were available on the silent auction, which raised $3,690.
This photo of participants in the July 17 Tori’s Angels fundraiser was taken before the four-person, best-shot tournament got underway.
Julie Dent-Zajicek, chair of the Tori’s Angels Foundation board of directors, shared information about the history and current activities of the foundation. A July 17 event sponsored by the Lake Panorama National women’s league raised $7,000 for the foundation.
Pictured left to right on the Lake Panorama National fifth hole are Maddox Hammerstrom, Galen Redshaw, Dee Powell, Sandi Lowe, Dawn Anderson, Dee Tometich and Jim Tibbles. The three men accepted freewill donations to hit golf shots to the green
There were 84 players in the four-gal, best-shot tournament July 17 to raise money for Tori’s Angels. After golf, participants gathered for dinner provided by The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort.