Westhampton Beach PAC gets $50K gift
The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center received a $50,000 donation from Holbrook-based American Portfolios Financial Services.
The money will help sustain the live entertainment venue as it struggles through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though it had been closed since March, the arts center reopened for in-person movie screenings in November with a full slate of weekend movies. However, screenings are capped at a maximum of 50 people and moviegoers must practice social distancing and mask wearing while at the theater. Patrons must also consent to temperature checks and sign a health waiver before entering.
Julienne Penza-Boone, executive director of the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, said support from partners like American Portfolios is critical to the venue’s survival.
“This funding will go a long way toward helping the theatre’s Arts Academy continue to offer small, socially-distanced arts programs,” Penza-Boone said in a written statement. “We were able to pivot and offer most of our classes virtually—including masterclasses with Broadway performers and inspiring webinars with our Moment series—but now we’re facing the reality of what it will take to reopen safely at some point and this generous donation will help us do just that.”
American Portfolios CEO Lon Dolber said the financial advisory firm has taken a long-term stakeholder approach toward sustainability that considers every dimension in the ethical, social, environmental, cultural and economic realms.
“While we aspire to touch upon many aspects of sustainability, we have always been committed to serving people and places we are connected to—more specifically through our corporate social responsibility efforts, in which AP gives us a platform to do good work in our communities, in turn making the world a better place for everyone,” Dolber said in the statement. “Therefore, we are pleased to be in a position to aid WHBPAC during these unprecedented times and are honored to support their mission.”
