This photo, taken at the 2025 Beach Ball, shows auctioneer Dan Wilson sharing details of the next item up for bids. Last year’s live auction raised more than $14,000 on 12 items, with the event having an overall profit of $35,000.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
Registration now is open for the Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball fundraiser Friday, June 12. The Beach Ball will be held at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort.
Registration will be 4:30-5:30 p.m. with a buffet dinner featuring smoked beef brisket and pork loins beginning at 6 p.m. A cash bar will open at 4:30 p.m. Funds will be raised with both live and silent auctions, plus other activities throughout the evening.
There are several options for those interested in attending the event. Members of the Friends Beach Club provide additional financial support to Friends of Lake Panorama beyond the cost of the meal.
Prices for 2026 Beach Club memberships are Friends Beach Club – Premier: $1000 — includes table sponsorship, eight dinner tickets, name in the 2026 Beach Ball program; Friends Beach Club – Couple: $300 — includes two dinner tickets, name in the program; and Friends Beach Club – Sponsor: $200 — includes table sponsorship, name in the program.
A limited number of individual meal tickets will be available at $60 each.
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.
There have been eight Beach Ball fundraisers 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 next five years, sometimes a bit higher, sometimes lower. Over the past six Beach Balls, $180,000 was raised to support additional projects.
Those 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.
At its May meeting, the Friends board will discuss projects that will be eligible to receive funds raised at the 2026 Beach Ball. These projects will be publicized in advance, and additional information available at the Beach Ball.
To register for the 2026 Beach Ball, or discuss donating an auction item for the event, text or call Susan Thompson at 515-240-6536 or Shanell Wagler at 515-371-0505. Or send an email to staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.