Seventy-two players participated in the four-gal best-shot golf tournament July 16 to raise money for Tori’s Angels Foundation. After golf, participants gathered for dinner at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
Julie Dent-Zajicek, chair of the Tori’s Angels Foundation board of directors, shares information about the foundation’s history and current work. The July 16 event raised $7,500 for the foundation.
For the ninth consecutive year, the Lake Panorama National Women’s League held a fundraiser for the Tori’s Angels Foundation, which helps Iowa families who have children with life-threatening medical conditions.
The event was held July 16 in place of league play and raised $7,500. Eighteen teams, totaling 72 golfers, competed in a four-gal best-shot tournament. The winning team included Carla Fitzgerald, Emily Spradling, Susan Thompson and Jolene Wright.
Special events were held throughout the course to raise additional funds.
At the fifth hole, golfers made freewill donations for shots over the pond to the green by Greg Hull, Jim Tibbles and Maddox Hammerstrom.
At the seventh hole, golfers paid $5 for a chance to enter a 50-50 raffle. Players whose drives landed in the chalk image of a gift box were entered in the drawing. Four golfers — Carla Fitzgerald, Sherri Miller, Emily Spradling and Dee Tometich — qualified. Miller’s name was drawn to receive half of the proceeds, which she donated back to the fundraiser.
Dinner followed at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort. Participants bid in a silent auction featuring items donated by area businesses and members of the LPN and Panorama West Women’s Golf Leagues.
Sherri Miller and Julie Tibbles co-chaired the fundraiser, with a volunteer committee made up of members from both women’s leagues.
Jennifer Jensen spoke to the group about her daughter, Liberty Ashworth, who died of cancer at the age of 18. Liberty was the 74th child sponsored by Tori’s Angels Foundation.
Jennifer Jensen was the guest speaker. Her daughter, Liberty Ashworth, was diagnosed with cancer in November 2020 at age 14 and became Tori’s Angels’ 74th sponsored child. She died Jan. 4, 2025, at age 18.
Jensen talked about Liberty’s four-year battle with cancer and the support received from Tori’s Angels Foundation. She shared how Liberty came to accept her impending death and encouraged her family to do the same. Jensen pointed out cards placed on the tables that Liberty had secretly created before her death and arranged to have delivered to family members.
One card featured a quote from Wess Stafford: “Joy is a decision. A really brave one about how you are going to respond to life.”
Julie Dent-Zajicek, chair of the Tori’s Angels Foundation Board of Directors, said the foundation recently accepted its 207th sponsored child. During the past 15 years, the foundation has raised more than $3 million to help ill children and their families pay medical expenses not covered by insurance.
Participants gather before the July 16 four-person best-shot tournament benefiting Tori’s Angels Foundation.