Two Cape Coral non-profits in danger of closing

Two Cape Coral non-profits in danger of closing

TWO CULTURAL FIXTURES IN THECAPE CORAL COMMUNITY ARESTRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, AND NEEDCOMMUNITY SUPPORT.THE CULTURAL PARK THEATER ANDTHE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MILITARYMUSEUM HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO HOSTVISITORS FOR MONTHS, AND THELOSS OF REVENUE COULD FORCE THEMTO CLOSE THEIR DOORS FOR GOOD.FOX 4 REPORTER ROB MANCH STOPPEDBY BOTH THOSE SPOTS TODAY.(:20-25)(:49-54)THE CULTURAL PARK THEATER HASBEEN A PART OF THE CAPE CORALCOMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 60 YEARS.BUT TODAY, THE SEATS ARE EMPTY,AND THERE’S A REAL CONCERN THATIT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAY OPEN.DIRECTOR MICHAEL MORAN GAVE ME ATOUR OF THE STAGE.RIGHT NOW, IT’S FILLED WITH ASET FOR A SHOW THAT NEVERHAPPENED."THERE’S A REAL FEAR THAT THIS,IF WE OPEN, THIS WOULD BE OURLAST YEAR, THAT IT WOULD BE HARDTO MAKE IT THROUGH IT."MORAN SAYS THE THEATER WASALREADY JUST BRINGING IN ENOUGHTO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A BIG BLOWTO THEIR FUNDING."FROM MARCH, WHEN WE HAD TOCLOSE DOWN, BECAUSE IT WAS STILLPART OF SEASON, THOSE LOSSESWERE ALMOST $60 THOUSAND.

WEHAVE TO RECOVER THAT."OVER AT THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDMILITARY MUSEUM, THE STORY ISSIMILA"WE HAD TO CUT ALL OF OUREVENTS OUT.

I THINK THE LASTESTIMATE WAS ALMOST $40 THOUSAIN EVENT INCOME THAT WE’VE LOSTIN THAT PERIOD OF TIME SINCE WECLOSED."BUT FOUNDER RALPH SANTILLO SAYHERE, THE SITUATION MAY BE MOREDIRE.THE BUILDING IS IN THE PROCESSOF BEING SOLD BY THE OWNER.IF THE MUSEUM CAN’T COME UP WITHENOUGH TO SECURE A 2 POINT 1MILLION DOLLAR MORTGAGE, IT MAYNOT BE HERE NEXT YEAR."WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE WOULDMOVE OVER THE 30 OR 40 THOUSANDITEMS THAT WE HAVE ACCUMULATEDIN THIS MUSEUM."ITEMS LIKE WAR MEDALS AND AFLIGHT ATTENDANT JACKET FROM APLANE THAT WENT DOWN DURING9-11.ALL OF IT DONATED FROM THECOMMUNITNOW, SANTILLO SAYS THEY NEED TORELY ON THAT GENEROSITY AGAIN."WE’VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS FORTHE COMMUNITY.

I’M HOPING THECOMMUNITY COMES TO US NOW ANDFINDS A WAY."MORAN SAYS HE’S ALREADYORGANIZED ONLINE FUNDRAISERS FORLATER THIS YEAR.BUT HE’S ALSO GETTING READY TORETIRE, AND THINKING ABOUT HISLEGACY."I WANT THIS PLACE TO BETHRIVING WHEN I WALK OUT THATDOOR THE LAST TIME.

I DON’T WANTTO GO OUT THE DOOR THE LAST TIMEAND LOCK IT FOREVER."IF YOU DO WANT TO HELP, HEAD TOOUR WEBSITE FOX 4 NOW DOT COM.WE’LL HAVE THIS STORY POSTEDSOON, WHERE YOU’LL FIN