Mission Accomplished – Funds Raised to Save the Holly Theater

HOLLY, CO—The clock had been ticking since early this year for the community of Holly to save it’s theater. Movie production houses decided to go to strictly digital distribution leaving the Holly Pride Committee to raise $100,000 for a new projector or be forced to close. The necessary funds had to be raised by this month to ensure that the new projector would be in place by the end of 2012. After several months of fundraising, the new projector has become a reality. Holly Pride Committee member Kammie Cathcart made the official announcement at a live auction event on Saturday, May 5th. Cathcart said, “I am so impressed with our community and how they came together to accomplish such a large task in such a short amount of time.”

The Holly Pride Committee hosted that live auction and dance in cooperation with the Holly/Hartman Alumni Association. The auction featured a wide variety of items including 2,000 tons of gravel donated by Eastern Colorado Aggregates, an outdoor shed from Big H Builders, furniture, stadium blankets, quilts, and much more. Also, a John Deere riding lawn mower and a Honda push mower were given away as part of a drawing. Both mowers were donated by Colorado Equipment. Colorado Equipment is owned in part by former Colorado Governor Roy Romer who grew up in Holly and graduated from Holly High School.

The Holly Pride Committee also hosted two dinners with entertainment as fundraisers this year as well. In February, 175 people turned out for the sold-out Valentine’s steak dinner and showing of the movie “War Horse.” In March, a crowd attended a Mexican food lunch and performance by Take Five, a local jazz group. Beyond fundraisers, the Holly Pride Committee received many financial contributions from local residents and businesses alike. The Holly Pride Committee thanks every individual who made a contribution during this fundraising campaign. The generosity is greatly appreciated, not only by the committee, but by the entire community.

The new projector system will allow the Holly Theater to feature some of the same technology that larger theaters in big cities now use. The system will allow for the showing of 3D movies and provide a much better picture for traditional 2D movies.

Donations are still being accepted to help further improve the theater facility. Cathcart described the tasks now ahead, “We need to fix our South wall possibly with the addition of some storage, and add a second bathroom and stage area. We still have some fund raisers set up and applied for some grants. We have our second wind and seek to accomplish the building with as much zest as we did with the projector!”

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