The Temple Theatre announced on Wednesday the launch of a new $1.5 million endowment campaign to help sustain the organization’s operations.

Kicking off with $350,000 in commitments, the campaign will run through June 2025, and the first $500,000 committed to the campaign will be matched by members of the Ingram family, who have a long history of involvement with the Temple, including funding the 1981 renovation of the space, and the original construction of the building in 1925. The move was announced in an email to supporters of the organization.

The Temple Endowment Fund will be managed and directed by a board of trustees, and will serve to sustain the Temple’s operations as it moves into its second century, providing a basis for further growth and success.

To contribute to the fund, email Producing Artistic Director at peggytaphorn@gmail.com or call the business office at (919) 774-4155.

Built in 1925 as a Vaudeville house, the Temple Theatre stands today as a monument to Sanford’s impressive artistic footprint. Almost 100 years ago, it was a hotspot for New York-based theatre troupes passing through on their way to Florida, thanks in large part to its convenient location minutes away from the railroad station. As the railroad boom subsided and time passed, the Temple transformed to accommodate the needs of the area, showing movies, and housing a furniture store and a men’s clothing outlet before eventually shuttering its windows in 1965. Today, the Temple Theatre provides professional, high-quality productions year-round, numerous youth opportunities and a myriad of special events.

Recent productions include Steel Magnolias, The Last 5 Years, the world premiere of Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust Road, Oliver!, Grease, Big River, Boeing Boeing, and 1776.