The Hamptons

The Sag Harbor Partnership (SHP), a group of committed community residents, today kicked off an urgent capital fundraising campaign to save the Sag Harbor Cinema. The campaign will fulfill urgent funding needs set out under a recently-announced agreement to purchase the property destroyed in the town’s devastating December fire. To ensure that the deal is complete, the SHP needs to raise $6 million by July 1, 2017 to secure the contract. Following that, an additional $2 million is needed by December 31, 2017 to take ownership.

*IF THE COMMUNITY FALLS EVEN ONE DOLLAR SHORT of the $8 million needed by the end of the year, THE AGREEMENT WILL BE VOIDED.*

Visit sagharborcinema.org to pledge support for the fundraising campaign. All donations are tax-deductible. The SHP has secured nearly $1.5 million since the property was placed in escrow on April 6. The mission of the SHP is to ensure that the community remains a place of culture and discovery. The restoration of the cinema as a not-for-profit cultural resource is a vital part of that purpose.

Exciting new developments are happening daily. Emma Walton Hamilton and Steve Hamilton, founders of Bay Street Theater, have joined our Executive Committee. A dynamic and resourceful Advisory Board for the new Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center has b formed. Susan Lacy, creator of the American Masters series on PBS, has agreed to be its Director, and we have been joined by stage, screen and theater legend Dame Julie Andrews. Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, renowned documentary filmmakers (The War Room, Monterey Pop, Don?t Look Back) have joined us, as well as character actor great Harris Yulin. From Hollywood, we have PR dynamo Shawn Sachs of Sunshine Sachs, as well as celebrity chef Katie Lee (The Kitchen) of both the Food Network and the Cooking Channel.

All members of the Advisory Board are deeply committed to this community, and the newest member of the Board is Jesse Matsuoka of Sen Restaurant, who said, “People here have a passion for the arts but when it comes to donations, sometimes there’s minimal response. But once the people of Sag Harbor understand that this is not your normal fundraiser and is to create the Sag Harbor Cinema Arts program that is exactly when people will know that they have to do something and that everyone needs to put money where their heart is, now!?

All contributions to the purchase and rebuilding of the Cinema are tax-deductible, and the Sag Harbor Partnership, a 501(c) 3, is looking for hero-donors to step up for community, culture and education on the East End. sagharborcinema.org

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