Lakeport >> The first project planned by the Lake County Fair Foundation (LCFF) is renovation of bathrooms in Lewis Hall, estimated to cost $25,000. This large rental facility has recently received a new coat of interior paint and the Lakeport Rotary Club donated new doors to the building.
The LCFF, a nonprofit entity of the Lake County Fair, was created in the summer of 2015. Since 2012 fairs have experienced a substantial loss of funding resources from the state and the foundation was formed as a vehicle for community donations to help make up this loss in funding. While the state may withhold funds, they cannot control what the foundation raises.
Funding reduction has resulted in a lack of infrastructure maintenance and costly emergency repairs. A fundraiser event to support the bathroom upgrades is planned for April 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Lewis Hall.
The mission of the LCFF is to support the fair by helping with special projects including beautification and enhancement of the fairgrounds and creating and expanding the fair’s educational programs along with marketing and fundraising support.
Foundation board members are president Ruth Stewart, Jane Alameda, Janeane Bogner, Chuck Doty, Ed Robey, Annette Hopkins and fair CEO Debbie Strickler. Erica Illg, a Kelseyville 4-H member, is an honorary junior member of the foundation board.
Illg approached the board with an idea to raise money for the foundation and sold her goat at the 2015 Lake County Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction for nearly $5,300 and donated the proceeds to the LCFF.
Funds have also been received from Lake County Rising through the Wine Alliance to assist 4-H and FFA members impacted by the Valley Fire.
In addition to seeking donations from community and business members the LCFF is also recruiting annual dues paying members. Membership levels are lifetime, $3,000; business, $400; family, $300; nonprofits, $150; individual, $100; and junior, $25. Dues for 2015 will continue through 2016.
Donations and membership fees can be mailed to the Lake County Fair Foundation, P.O. Box 967, Lakeport, CA 95453. The foundation’s tax identification number is 47-4060372.
For more information or to join call the Lake County Fair at (707) 263-6181.
