Facility Upgrade / Donations

Over the years since SYC's founding in 1941, many, many SYC members have generously contributed their time and financial support to develop and maintain the club's facilities and equipment. Today, the need for financial support is even more important for the future of Lake Shawnee sailing.

In recent years, as Parks & Rec's plans for the area evolved, SYC's plans for club facility improvements evolved (see 2021 and 2022). SYC's fundraising effort to support the 2021 plan raised a total of $12,985.00 cash and $30,500.00 in pledges from the following individuals:

Dave & Martha Abendroth in memory of Brian J. Abendroth
Nancy Bell
George Chaffee
Mike & Shirley Gorman
Al & Jo Hunt
Mark & Linda Marling
Memorial for Brent Nothern
Austin & Marianna Nothern
Kent & Marsha Palmberg
Bob Procter
Herschel & Jackie Stroud
Chuck & Dana Towle

Some of the pledges require a facility improvement plan approved by the County Commission or a total of at least $100,000 in private donations and pledges. We are so thankful for the support. The cash donations above were used for SYC's share of the new security fence around the boatyard.

SYC recently presented Parks & Rec with a Five-Year Master Plan for improving our sailing facilities. The plan aims to increase sailing activity on Lake Shawnee and get SYC back on a more sustainable footing. We are currently negotiating with P+R staff for their support in moving forward with individual items in the plan. SYC's costs for some of these improvements will be substantial. Please consider a contribution to help us with these improvements. It could be cash or a direct transfer of IRA/RMD funds to take advantage of the tax benefits.

To make a pledge, please complete the Future Gift Pledge form and mail to SYC at the address below.

To make a tax-deductible/tax-free donation, please make checks payable to "Parks For All Foundation"* with "SYC Fund" on the memo/note line, and mail to:

Shawnee Yacht Club, P.O. Box 221, Topeka, KS 66601

We will forward checks on to the Parks For All Foundation* and make sure they are deposited in the SYC Fund. Let us know if you want the gift to remain anonymous.

Non-tax-deductible donations may also be made online via the SYC Membership form.

And while it won't help SYC in the short term, leaving a gift to the club in your estate plan would help ensure SYC and Lake Shawnee sailing continue into the future. Setting the beneficiary on an account, or a portion thereof, to "Parks For All Foundation -- SYC Fund," is all it takes.

For more information or if you have questions or comments please email the SYC Facility Upgrade Committee (Mark Marling & Mike Gorman) at .

* Funds donated directly to SYC are not tax deductible since SYC is not registered as a 501(c)(3) with the IRS. Therefore we worked with the Parks For All Foundation (formerly the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Foundation), a 501(c)(3), to establish the SYC Fund to support Lake Shawnee sailing facilities. All expenditures from that fund require SYC Board approval.