Fundraising continues, with $37,500 to go before Ebertfest April
23-27
CHAMPAIGN,
Illinois, March 5, 2014 — Fans of the late film critic Roger Ebert have helped
raise $50,000 to erect a sculpture to honor him in his hometown thanks to a
matching grant challenge issued by the Ebert Foundation. Total cash and in-kind
donations for the project come to $75,000 — two-thirds of the goal – with
$37,500 remaining to be raised.
The life-sized
bronze sculpture of Ebert sitting in the middle of three theater seats
displaying his signature "thumbs up," will sit outside the Virginia Theatre. The
idea was conceived by Donna Anderson, the travel agent for Ebertfest, who moved
forward with the project while in the hospital recovering from heart transplant
surgery.
"Roger
pressed on in the face of huge physical challenges, so Donna decided she would,
too," says her husband, Scott Anderson, head of fundraising for the Roger Ebert
Sculpture Project. "She asks Ebert fans to help her make this honor for Roger
happen."
The
artist, Rick Harney of Bloomington, has delivered the models to make the
sculpture molds to InBronze Foundry of Mt. Morris. The hope is that the
sculpture will be ready to unveil at the Ebertfest film festival April 23-27 in
Champaign.
"I
am so impressed that Scott and Donna and the artist Rick Harney have been so
persistent in moving this project forward," said Ebert's wife, Chaz. "I know
the movie-goers at Ebertfest and the towns of Champaign-Urbana will be thrilled
if the sculpture of Roger is ready in time for the film festival."
Meanwhile,
the fundraising committee continues to work on raising the remaining $37,500. "Donor
contributions have demonstrated that there are lots of Roger Ebert fans that wish
to honor Roger in this manner and are willing to support this project. Now is
the time for those on the sidelines to join in and help us get over the top,"
Scott Anderson said.
Tax-deductible
donations can be made to the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, at
307 W. University Ave., Champaign, Illinois 61820, or online at ebertsculpture.org.
Designate gifts for the "Ebert Sculpture." Donor incentives are listed at http://ebertsculpture.org/donate-now. For further information, contact Scott
Anderson Jr. at 217-359-8200, 217-840-8390 (cell), or scottdaref@aol.com.
