Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is pleased to announce that, thanks to incredible community support, the nonprofit theatre has raised almost $187,800 in individual contributions made towards a matching gift of $175,000 pledged by the generous donors Patrick and Mary Mulva. This outpouring of community support has exceeded the matching gift by almost $12,800. In mid-March, the Mulvas announced that they would match every contribution made to FST, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. This matching gift was planned to coincide with the 2020 Giving Challenge in an effort to inspire others to give. Following the exceptional success of this year’s 24-hour online Giving Challenge campaign, the Mulvas responded by expanding their matching gift to FST from $100,000 to $175,000. “The generosity of our community never ceases to amaze me,” said Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins. “I was touched when Mary and Pat Mulva initially extended their support of $100,000, and was deeply moved when they expanded their gift due to others’ generosity. Every gift will help the theatre stay strong, move ahead, and prepare for the future.” “We have always been great fans of the theatre and were so excited to discover FST when we moved to Sarasota in 2018,” said Patrick and Mary Mulva. “As we learned more about FST’s mission and the people who make it the vibrant place it is, we were even more impressed and committed to its ongoing success. The theatre’s unmatched quality of productions, commitment to presenting relevant and challenging topics onstage, educational focus on youth, and economic impact on our community are so important.”

For more information on the matching challenge grant, made possible by the generous gift of Patrick and Mary Mulva, please contact Melody Mora-Shihadeh, FST’s Director of Individual Giving, at (941) 366-9017 x326 or at mmora-shihadeh@floridastudiotheatre.org.