RIDGWAY – Members of the Ridgway Chautauqua Society, operators of the Sherbino Theater, announced this week that they met their goal of raising $25,000 by the end of 2012, a total that has been matched by an anonymous Ridgway donor.

The total for the 60-day fundraising period has now exceeded $50,000, said Pat Willits, Chautauqua Society chair.

The funds will help the Sherbino Theater complete its renovation plans and continue its path toward the purchase of Ridgway’s Community Theater.

“Thanks to everyone who donated,” said Willits. “It has been truly a community-wide effort. Meeting this challenge match gives us the financial wherewithal to take more giant steps towards completing the planned interior rejuvenation at the Sherb. We began interior renovations last August, added state-of-the-art film projection equipment in October. And now, with this new fundraising challenge met, we have improved infrastructure, begun cleanup of the backstage area, added fashionable and functional furniture, and installed a high-definition television in the bar area keyed to our big theater screen.

“But much work remains.”

In less than a year, the Ridgway Chautauqua Society has accomplished much with the physical space, and launched a new website (sherbinotheater.com), events calendar, social media and PR efforts.

For more information, please contact Brian Scranton,bscranton@grahamspencer.com.