“Imagine the Possibilities” has been the theme of the Rees Theatre’s restoration project, and there are just a few more days left to imagine the possibility of reaching the goal of raising $1.5 million locally to receive a $300,000 grant from the Regional Cities Initiative.
Regional Cities set a goal of $1.5 million to be raised locally by small and large donations and in-kind contribution to see that the community is behind the project.
A number of fundraisers have been done over the past several months including a sold-out event earlier this month called Puttin On the Rees that raised approximately $150,000.
The committee is meeting this morning and will get a better idea of where they are, but co-chair of the committee Randy Danielson said he believes they are about $300,000 short of the goal.
While $300,000 is still a lot of money yet to raise, it is feasible to meet the goal because all the funds don’t have to be on-hand by the October 31st deadline. Donations can be pledged over a four year period.
The committee is working hard to reach this grant match goal, but that is not the end of the fundraising. The overall goal is to raise a total of $3.46 million. That funding will give the theater a total rehab, inside and outside. The goal will also place $600,000 into an endowment to support the theater’s continued operation.
The plan is to begin the restoration project in 2019 with the anticipation of having a completed project in 2020, in time to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the theater’s opening.
Donations, no matter how small or large are welcome. Donations can be made in person at the Marshall County Museum in downtown Plymouth or online at REESPROJECT.COM.
