Auditorium loan paid off

The next time Richard and Carol

Atkinson, and John Kramer take in an evening of live theater at the

Whitefish Middle School auditorium, it will be an entirely new

experience. Their nearly eight-year effort to raise more than $5

million for a renovation of the performance hall has finally come

to a conclusion.

The Atkinsons and Kramer each put liens

on their home or property to back a $3.5 million loan for the

renovation project. Last week, two donations came in that

officially paid off the loan.

“I haven’t been to a production at the

auditorium since the loan was paid off, but it will be a big sigh

of relief when I do,” Carol Atkinson said.

The final donations came from Jacob

Braig, Whitefish class of 1955, and his brother Bob Braig,

Whitefish class of 1958.

Atkinson said everyone involved with

fundraising is pleased to see the effort come to a conclusion.

“They know this was a long haul,”

Atkinson said. “Everyone is very happy about it.”

Other members of the fundraising team

over the past eight years include Bob Chambers, who managed the

group’s website, fundraiser David Pickeral and Sandy Loy, the

team’s volunteer “CFO.”

“I’ve been raising money in Whitefish

for more than 20 years,” Atkinson said. “I’m more proud of this

than anything else.”

She said funding the auditorium

renovation was a true community effort. More than 900 families and

businesses have donated to the project.

Atkinson acknowledged Whitefish Credit

Union’s support. The credit union loaned the money and agreed to

lower the interest rate four different times as the prime rate

dropped. They also made a significant pledge of $30,000.

Atkinson said they never flinched about

the decision to put a lien on their home to back the project.

“That’s just what you have to do in a

fundraising effort like this,” she said. “Somebody has to step to

the plate. I knew we’d pay it off eventually.”

Going forward a fund may be created to

help pay for maintenance and upkeep of the auditorium. The newly

formed Whitefish Arts Council is also looking at ways to support

all of the theaters in the area with upkeep costs.

“You can’t raise money for something

like this, then sit back,” Atkinson said.

The performance hall is 16,000 square

feet with seating for 490. The renovated theater officially opened

in October of 2007.