Olympia Family Theater asks for community donations in wake of financial troubles
The executive director of Olympia Family Theater, a nonprofit performing arts organization focused on theater for children, sent out a request Oct. 31 for community donations after decreasing its physical footprint downtown.
According to a news release from executive director Mark Alford and board chair Deane Shellman, OFT continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want to be transparent about the tough decisions we are navigating to ensure the stability of our organization going forward, including reducing our footprint and staff hours,” they wrote. “Despite our continuing efforts to adapt, these difficulties have left us at a critical point, and we are reaching out today to ask for your help.”
The two wrote that the organization recently had to vacate its second space called the OYAA room next door to OFT. Theaters around the country are closing their doors at an alarming rate, they said, and OFT is downsizing in many ways.
“We know this is tough news to share with our community, but we are deeply committed to the sustainable future of Olympia Family Theater,” they wrote. “With your help, we can overcome our upcoming budget shortfalls, complete our resizing efforts, and continue to be a source of joy for our community.”
There are several ways to support OFT, according to the news release. You can make a tax-deductible donation at the Olympia Family Theater website, or through their GoFundMe campaign online.
OFT also offers memberships at Olyft.org/membership. Tickets also are available for the upcoming production of “Honk the Musical.”
Alford and Shellman also encouraged people who want to support the theater to fundraising campaign links on social media to help spread the word.
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