It's been an exciting but nerve-wracking month for the
Denis Theatre Foundation.
Two substantial grants have come through: first $100,000 from The Pittsburgh Foundation, then an anonymous $155,000 "challenge grant" that must be matched by additional fundraising. And in the days since those grants were announced, the foundation has raised an additional $35,000 toward the restoration of the historic Denis Theatre in Mt. Lebanon.
But the option to buy the Denis expires on June 30 and the foundation must raise another $200,000 in order to make that dream a reality. Can it be done? The foundation team is cautious but hopeful.
"We have sent out a mailing to every donor who's ever donated to us, as well as to prospects who have been to different events and know our story," says foundation executive director Anne Kemerer. "We're letting them know about our challenge."
The recently announced grants have piqued interest among additional donors. "This is a grassroots project and it's been going on for a while," Kemerer says. "We kicked this off just when the economy tanked, so there's always been the question in people's minds, 'Is this for real? Can it come to fruition?'"
"The fact that we are this close, now it's, "Wow, this really is going to happen,'" she says. "The two grants have given us a great affirmation of the project and credibility that some people needed."
An event last Saturday night added a bit more money to the coffers. And a final event -- an outdoor film series called "Last Saturday Cinema" happening this month on the 26th could add a few dollars more.
"We expect about 300 people," Kemerer says of the next Last Saturday Cinema. "So it's definitely an opportunity. But people don't come to that kind of event expecting to give money," so it's not likely to be a major source of cash.
"We're doing serious outreach," Kemerer says. "Phones, letters. And we're starting to get responses."
Stay tuned here for an update as June winds down.
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Writer: Melissa Rayworth
Source: Anne Kemerer, Denis Theatre Foundation
Image courtesy of Denis Theatre Foundation