Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Broadway Theatre raises over $40K in week

Donor partners ready to match amount after public campaign hits milestone

- MATT OLSON maolson@postmedia.com

Donors to the Broadway Theatre said they'd match the first $40,000 raised by the public in the theatre's recently announced fundraisin­g campaign.

None of them probably expected that milestone to be reached so quickly.

The Broadway Theatre announced on Tuesday that the Broadway: Here to Stay fundraisin­g campaign already hit more than $40,000 in public donations. The two-week campaign began on last Thursday, which means the theatre hit its initial goal in just a handful of days.

“The support we request from the public, added to the generosity of Bob Steane and our partners Affinity Credit Union, STRATA Developmen­t and the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon, is essential to our organizati­on continuing to flourish — and to provide education, entertainm­ent and inspiratio­n to (more than) 80,000 patrons annually,” Broadway Theatre executive director Kirby Wirchenko said in the statement announcing the fundraiser.

Affinity, STRATA and the Kinsmen all said they would match the first $40,000 raised. With well over a week left in the campaign, the Broadway Theatre is still doing what it can to encourage people to donate by offering “swag” for certain levels of donations, including show passes and private movie screenings.

The Broadway Theatre, like many other venues throughout Saskatoon, was deeply affected by the closures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellati­on of the Juno Awards. The Broadway: Here to Stay campaign was started in response to those difficult circumstan­ces.

 ?? LIAM RICHARDS FILES ?? Broadway Theatre's Here to Stay campaign is encouragin­g people to donate by offering show passes and private movie screenings. As of Tuesday, the campaign had raised more than $40,000.
LIAM RICHARDS FILES Broadway Theatre's Here to Stay campaign is encouragin­g people to donate by offering show passes and private movie screenings. As of Tuesday, the campaign had raised more than $40,000.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada