The Avalon Theatre Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1991 by Pat Gormley with a mission to renovate and expand this wonderful downtown icon. That vision was fulfilled when the newly restored Avalon Theatre opened in 2014 along with a new building, which houses an expanded lobby, multipurpose Encore Hall, and the Rooftop Terrace with wonderful views of downtown. All of this was made possible through donations from individuals, businesses, granting agencies and the City of Grand Junction.

The Avalon Theatre has been the jewel of Main Street for over 95 years and serves the community by showing movies, presenting concerts and performances and holding various events from weddings to conferences.

The foundation is not involved in the day-to-day management of The Avalon; the City of Grand Junction owns and manages the building. We are a separate nonprofit that remains engaged in the preservation, promotion and enhancement of The Avalon for community benefit. Our focus is ensuring that The Avalon remains a place where our community gathers, as it has since it opened in 1923.

After completing our major capital fundraising project in 2016, we continue our mission by providing funds and support for the expanding uses of The Avalon. In 2016, we purchased display monitors, which can be seen in both buildings. We also provided funds for additional stage lighting, benefiting our symphony orchestra. In 2018, we completed Encore Hall.

In 2016, we also started a Community Benefit Fund, which supports local organizations and businesses by providing grants for rental fees so they can host events at The Avalon. To date, we have provided over $5,000 to local groups. We see this as a way to ensure that The Avalon continues to be enjoyed by our entire community.

Our project for 2018 is the purchase of a new and expanded sound system for the main theater. The current sound system is old and technologically out of date. We are excited that the City has committed funding for approximately half of this project. With this new sound system, movies will be more enjoyable and small events will no longer need to rent outside sound systems.

We raise funds by asking for donations from our supporters. Another great way to support the foundation is to purchase a paver to be installed on the Rooftop Terrace. This is a beautiful way to honor a friend or loved one, to promote a business, and to enshrine your legacy in the cultural fabric of our community. You can also show your support by attending numerous events and fundraisers throughout the year, including AvalonFest and the Wild and Scenic Film Festival.

For the last 95 years, The Avalon Theatre has been an iconic piece of our local cultural community and continues to awe and entertain everyone who passes through its doors. You can help ensure that it remains an iconic piece of our historic Main Street for generations to come by making a donation to The Avalon Theatre Foundation, by purchasing a legacy paver or even by attending one of our many yearly fundraising events.

For more information, call 778-3088 or visit www.avalontheatrefoundation.org.