LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.–Marshall Boutwell, CEO of Peach State Federal Credit Union, and his wife, Lee, have pledged a $100,000 gift to the Aurora Theatre.
The donation was announced at the Theatre’s Annual Gala event in which Boutwell was the evening honoree and recipient of the Barbara Award. The award is given to an individual that is a vibrant part of the community and demonstrates a passionate commitment to the Aurora Theatre.
“We are honored that Lee and Marshall have chosen to support the Aurora Theatre,” said Anthony Rodriguez, co-founder/producing artistic director for the Theatre. “Their gift represents their ongoing support of the arts and dedication to its growth for years to come.”
“We recognize the importance of supporting the arts in our community both by attending events and through financial contributions,” said Boutwell. “Lee and I are committed to making a difference in any way to that we can, and are fortunate to be able to do it.”
Boutwell has been president/CEO at Peach State for over 20 years. The credit union has provided sponsorship of the Aurora for years, helping to bring shows like Mary Poppins and Memphis to the community.
In 1996, Aurora Theatre was established in a converted hardware store in the suburbs of Atlanta. The City of Lawrenceville, Ga., recognized the positive economic impact the arts have on its community and invited Aurora Theatre to serve as the cornerstone for its revitalization plans. In a unique partnership between city government, private development and a non-profit charity, the city purchased a 100-year-old church and together with Aurora Theatre transformed the space into a $7.5 million theater complex, which opened in May of 2007. Now, Aurora Theatre houses two performance spaces, boasts 5,200 season ticket holders, produces over 600 events annually and entertains 70,000 visitors.