Detroit Music Hall Reaches $1.7 Million Goal To Keep Doors Open [VIDEO]
DETROIT (WWJ) - Officials at Detroit's Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts say the venue has reached its fundraising goal of $1.7 million to keep its doors open and the tunes flowing.
Just prior to Chaka Khan taking the stage Friday night, concert co-organizers Jon Barfield and Vivian Carpenter announced to the sold out crowd that through last-minute donations and pledges, the Music Hall had reached the $1.7 million it needed to save the 88-year-old cultural institution.
An April 30 deadline had been set to raise funds needed to settle debt with the Music Hall's primary creditors. Officials said the situation was "dire" and failure to meet the deadline would have led to the institution closing its doors.
Organizers are still seeking new donations to help pay other creditors and accrue enough working capital to keep the theater functioning in the future.
The fundraising effort is part of the Music Hall's $7 Million Capital Campaign to address other remaining debts and create a reserve fund to prevent such future financial crises for the institution.