Local News

ROTARY OFFERS CHALLENGE GRANT FOR PAC CURTAINS

Jan 26, 2016

The Omak Performing Arts Center Foundation announced a big boost this week in its campaign to replace all the curtains in the Omak PAC. Like the theater, the curtains are more than twenty-five years old and need to be replaced this summer to meet fire safety regulations. The PAC Foundation began raising money last year to pay for the curtains at a cost of more than $60,000. The Okanogan-Omak Rotary Club recently awarded a matching challenge grant for up to $25,000. Rotary will match all new donations, dollar-for-dollar.

Greg Grillo, foundation president, says the Rotary grant leaves the foundation with just under $20,000 yet to raise. Rotary president Doug Sklar said that “Rotary endeavors to meet a variety of needs in the community through various outreach programs in addition to scholarship awards.” Sklar noted that strong community support of Rotary’s fund-raising events allows the group to make this grant and assure continued operation of the theater.

The foundation goal is to replace the curtains at no direct cost to the Omak School District. Grillo said the help from Rotary is important because it recognizes that the PAC is a vital asset to a broad community.

“Although it’s called the ‘Omak’ PAC,” said Grillo, “the theater serves the entire Okanogan region and beyond.” The PAC foundation is a non-profit, organized when the theater was built to provide ongoing support. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law and can be made securely online at omakpac.org. Checks can also be mailed to the Omak PAC Foundation, P.O. Box 327, Omak.

For more information: Mary Koch 509-322-0177