Athena Cinema: Dreams of 3 New Screens

There is terrific news to share about a recent contribution from Ohio University to upgrade and replace aging projectors at the Athena Cinema. This grant funding moves the Athena forward in terms of renovations and improvements but there are still gaps in essential expenses for lighting, technology, and the soul of the theatrical experience, the aging screens.

We've heard from many of our patrons that the cinematic experience is lacking due to outdated technologies and lack-luster screens. We heard you and in response have launched a new campaign to close the funding gap and elevate our facilities.

Update: We reached our first milestone in 48 hours thanks to your generous support! The $6,000 raised will pay for 3 New Screens! We are so grateful — Thank you! Your love of the Athena is so energizing to the staff! Now, every dollar donated will go toward improving our technical operations for an even better patron experience! We would love to raise enough to also update our accessibility equipment, lighting system, and microphones. Thanks again to all who donated. Your loyal support will improve the cinematic experience for all movie-goers!

With the help of Ann Moneypenny and Michael Kleinman, this Athena Cinema: Dreams of 3 New Screens & More campaign's goal is to raise at least $10,000 to cover the cost of new state-of-the-art screens and facilities improvements including:

• Cutting-edge accessibility devices for closed caption and audio descriptions
• Recalibration of our Crestron Lighting system for more nuanced lighting for events
• Advanced microphones so you can hear valuable content during community events

This added equipment will dramatically maximize accessibility and comfort for patrons, optimize lighting and sound, and improve technical capabilities all around. We are grateful for Ann and Michael who have generously matched the first $3,000 in funds.

Alex Kamody, Director of the Athena Cinema noted, "Ann and Michael have once again stepped up to help us reach our goal to be a premier community arts center. They care about our mission to bring films that wouldn’t otherwise be seen in this region."

The theater will be using its Athena Cinema Support Fund to pay for the costs to upgrade the screens and extended improvements. All gifts to Athena Cinema: Dreams of 3 New Screens & More campaign will go toward this fund.

The Athena Cinema Support Fund was established by long-time patrons and supporters Moneypenny and Kleinman through the Kleinpenny Education Fund which is committed to funding non-profits that support creativity, critical thinking, sustainability, tolerance, and mental health in Athens County.

"The Athena Cinema is dear to my heart. Like the Athens Block bricks on Court St. I can’t imagine our town without its perfect marquee. But inside its the Athena’s community-focused programing that brings college students and local residents together night after night. It’s screening films that commercial theaters never offer, it’s conversations on environmental and social justice issues that grow our shared bonds in this community and of course it is the yearly Athens International Film Festival that makes supporting this venue imperative, a joy and a necessity." — Ann Moneypenny

Double the impact of your gift & more!

• All gifts up to $3,000 will be matched* 1:1 by Moneypenny and Kleinman. This match will double the impact of your gift: your $50 becomes $100!
• This will help us reach the $10,000 goal of this campaign!
• Gifts beyond $10,000 will be used to further enhance this beloved theater and landmark

Welcome Week screening of EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE August 25, 2022

Your generous gift to this Athena campaign will improve the cinematic experience for all movie-goers

Your actions now will make this Athena Cinema: Dreams of 3 New Screens & More campaign a success. Here are 3 things alumni and friends can do to help replace the theater's outdated screens and technology:

• Make a gift today.
• Mail a check (payable to The Ohio University Foundation) to The Ohio University Foundation, PO Box 869, Athens, OH 45701; be sure to write Athena Cinema Support Fund on the memo line.
• If you want to explore making a charitable gift to this campaign with a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA), giving via a Donor Advised Fund or stock transfer, please reach out to Sarah Schneider.

About the 1:1 Match from Moneypenny and Kleinman

As stated above, this match will double the impact of your gift — your $50 will have the impact of $100! Because the match cannot be applied automatically, when you make this $50 gift, the campaign balance will only increase by $50. Several times each week, the Office of Annual Giving will update the Moneypenny and Kleinman Match listing on the Donor Wall which will showcase all donors' gifts (up to $3,000) being doubled. Match updated on February 26 at 3 p.m.