Auditorium loan paid off
The next time Richard and Carol
Atkinson, and John Kramer take in an evening of live theater at the
Whitefish Middle School auditorium, it will be an entirely new
experience. Their nearly eight-year effort to raise more than $5
million for a renovation of the performance hall has finally come
to a conclusion.
The Atkinsons and Kramer each put liens
on their home or property to back a $3.5 million loan for the
renovation project. Last week, two donations came in that
officially paid off the loan.
“I haven’t been to a production at the
auditorium since the loan was paid off, but it will be a big sigh
of relief when I do,” Carol Atkinson said.
The final donations came from Jacob
Braig, Whitefish class of 1955, and his brother Bob Braig,
Whitefish class of 1958.
Atkinson said everyone involved with
fundraising is pleased to see the effort come to a conclusion.
“They know this was a long haul,”
Atkinson said. “Everyone is very happy about it.”
Other members of the fundraising team
over the past eight years include Bob Chambers, who managed the
group’s website, fundraiser David Pickeral and Sandy Loy, the
team’s volunteer “CFO.”
“I’ve been raising money in Whitefish
for more than 20 years,” Atkinson said. “I’m more proud of this
than anything else.”
She said funding the auditorium
renovation was a true community effort. More than 900 families and
businesses have donated to the project.
Atkinson acknowledged Whitefish Credit
Union’s support. The credit union loaned the money and agreed to
lower the interest rate four different times as the prime rate
dropped. They also made a significant pledge of $30,000.
Atkinson said they never flinched about
the decision to put a lien on their home to back the project.
“That’s just what you have to do in a
fundraising effort like this,” she said. “Somebody has to step to
the plate. I knew we’d pay it off eventually.”
Going forward a fund may be created to
help pay for maintenance and upkeep of the auditorium. The newly
formed Whitefish Arts Council is also looking at ways to support
all of the theaters in the area with upkeep costs.
“You can’t raise money for something
like this, then sit back,” Atkinson said.
The performance hall is 16,000 square
feet with seating for 490. The renovated theater officially opened
in October of 2007.