The Paradise Performing Arts Center is facing a very serious financial crisis of it's own. So serious the center may close it's doors for good. But residents won't let that happen without a fight.
A Paradise Performing Arts Center board committee member asked Paradise residents, "Do you the citizens of Paradise want to sell this venue?" In unison, residents replied, "No!"
Residents filled a dark Paradise Performing Arts Center, Wednesday evening. The center's board committee can no longer afford the electricity bill, but that was the least of their worries. The arts center is at risk of closing because there are not enough funds to keep it open. The Paradise School District and the Kent Family Magic Circus have made offers to buy the place, but the center was built and has survived through community donations, for 33 years, and most Paradise residents want to keep it that way. Paradise resident Glenda Ott told Action News, "The facility is a wonderful facility to play on. It's a great house. There are no barriers visually, the sound is great. It's a thrill to be able to perform here considering that we went from gymnasiums to this, we would really hate to have to go back to it."
Organizers have come up with a plan called "500-for PPAC." They are asking 500 donors to make a $1,000 pledge per year for the next five years. It's "Plan A" for the board committee, but residents still had their doubts. One resident asked the board members, "How about 500 who can only give $500? That would account to $250,000. How about 1,000 people who could only give $250? That's still $250,000. Have you considered figures like this are possibilities?"
Whatever the community decides to keep the place open, most agree that the memories developed through the years in the Paradise Performing Arts Center are priceless.
Organizers of the plan have already raised $37,000 in just weeks. If you want to donate to help keep the center open, you can visit their website at www.paradiseperformingarts.com.
