2020 Giving Challenge a success for Venice Theatre
Gifts augmented by major donor, Dr. William H. Jervey Jr.
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| Dr. William H. Jervey Jr. and Murray Chase |
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| (Venice, FL) Venice Theatre’s leadership is breathing a sigh of relief after a successful 2020 Giving Challenge. The 70-year old non-profit arts organization is grateful to its donors for giving so generously during the 24-hour online community fundraising event. Venice Theatre placed in the top 10 of 687 organizations in all categories. The local community theatre’s name appeared in the number nine spot among all organizations on the Giving Challenge leaderboard. It placed at number three among arts groups, and was in the number two spot in three important categories: large organizations, number of donor gifts, and matched funds.
By the end of the challenge, 1,211 donors had given $96,035.50 to Venice Theatre. $93,764.50 of that total was matched by The Patterson Foundation for a total of $189,800 raised from noon on April 28 to noon on April 29. But the total amount raised did not stop there.
Venice Theatre’s Producing Executive Director Murray Chase explains, “Thanks to Dr. William H. Jervey Jr.’s devotion to Venice Theatre, the $1M Match offered to The Next Act Capital Campaign, supporting capital improvements and our endowment, has been extended to match all gifts to the theatre towards its operations for the rest of this calendar year of 2020. Part of the $1M has been offered to match the $96,000-plus raised via the Giving Challenge, in cooperation with the Patterson Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.”
The theatre also earned a “Fast 50” prize of $500 for being among the first 75 organizations to get 50 donors to give online in the initial moments of this year’s Giving Challenge.
The funds raised during The Giving Challenge will help to ensure that Venice Theatre stays strong through its closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Chase adds, “These contributions will help write the theatre’s next great story: how a community came together to secure the future of the institution it built itself.”
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About Venice Theatre
Venice Theatre is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making a dramatic impact on all stages of life. The second-largest of 10,000 community theatres in the United States, it is located at 140 Tampa Ave. W. in Venice, FL. Its Jervey Theatre offers seating for 432 patrons and features musicals, plays, concerts and special events. Its Yvonne Pinkerton Theatre seats 90 patrons and is home to the theatre’s Stage 2 Series and Cabaret Festival. In addition to providing entertainment to the community, Venice Theatre offers a wide range of education and outreach programs for children and adults.
