Saturday, July 18, 2009

Historic Plaza Theatre becomes a non-profit


Historic Plaza Theatre becomes a non-profit
by Richard Eldredge
Peach Buzz


In order to keep the city’s longest continually-operating movie theater open, owners Jonathan and Gayle Rej have announced that the 70-year-old Ponce de Leon Avenue institution has become a non-profit.

“The Plaza Theatre Foundation is intent on providing Atlanta a unique and classic filmgoing experience for years to come,” explains Jonathan Rej in an e-mail to Buzz Central. ”But the day-to-day operations of an independent cinema are rife with challenges. To keep the doors open, the film rolling and the popcorn popping, The Plaza Theatre Foundation needs your help.”

In order to keep the indie community arts theatre open, the Rejs are asking Plaza Theatre fans help in the following ways:

— Donate $250 and get the name of your choice engraved on a 9” gold star, which will be hung on The Plaza Theatre’s prestigious Star Wall.

— For a tax deductible donation of $400, you can purchase a seat to be installed in The Plaza Theatre. The name of your choice will be permanently displayed on an engraved brass plate attached to your seat.

— Be a Plaza Theatre V.I.P. by purchasing a membership package. Choose from a variety of

packages, which offer perks, discounts and more like movie passes, private screenings

and Plaza merchandise.

“Our goal is to keep The Plaza Theatre open and for it to continue to be a cornerstone of the

local arts community,” says Jonathan. “And gifts of all sizes will make a big difference.”

The Plaza Theatre Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and all gifts are tax deductible. All

funds generated will be used toward restoration, furnishings, equipment, operations and community initiatives for The Plaza Theatre.

On Friday Jonathan told Buzz: “When we bought this place, we just wanted to keep the theatre open. We never thought we were going to make a lot of money off of it. But we were hoping that it would at least support itself. That hasn’t turned out to be the case.”
http://blogs.ajc.com/peachbuzz/

For more info: www.plazaatlanta.com.

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