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<\/a><\/a>\nAnnounced at the nonprofit\u2019s grant ceremony, the funding will support targeted restoration, safety and accessibility improvements at both venues. The investment reflects Fox Gives\u2019 continued focus on preserving historic spaces that serve as cultural and economic anchors in communities across Georgia.<\/p>
\nIn Rome, funding will support a phased renovation of the DeSoto Theatre\u2019s stage and backstage areas, including upgrades to dressing rooms, accessibility features and core infrastructure to improve safety and expand educational programming.<\/p>
\nIn Thomasville, the funds will support essential life-safety and accessibility upgrades at the Auditorium, including fire suppression, structural repairs and systems improvements.<\/p>
\nCombined with $500,000 in single-year grants awarded in the 2025\u20132026 cycle, the funding brings Fox Gives\u2019 total investment for 2026 to a record $1.5 million.<\/p>
\n\u201cThese historic spaces matter to their communities. They bring people downtown, support local businesses and create shared experiences across generations,\u201d said Allan Vella, president and CEO of the Fox Theatre. \u201cWe know firsthand the impact created when a community comes together to save a local landmark. This is our way of paying that forward.\u201d<\/p>
\nAnnounced during National Historic Preservation Month, the $1 million multiyear investment underscores the role historic venues play in driving tourism, economic vitality and community connection across Georgia.<\/p>
\nSince its inception in 2008, Fox Gives has invested more than $5.7 million in historic theaters and cultural landmarks across Georgia and the Southeast.<\/p>
\nAbout Fox Gives<\/b><\/p>
\n\u200b<\/b>Fox Gives is the expanded outreach arm of Atlanta's iconic Fox Theatre, committed to fostering community partnerships and enriching lives through the arts. Evolved from the Fox Theatre Institute, Fox Gives continues the legacy of providing historic preservation expertise, consultation, and education to performing arts venues in Georgia and beyond. With a focus on environmental and economic impact, Fox Gives offers multiyear preservation grants, arts education programs and vocational mentorship, leveraging resources to stimulate local economies and keep the artistic pulse of communities vibrant. Under the Fox Gives umbrella, the theatre introduces transformative initiatives like the All-Access Pass high school program to open new doors in vocational arts education for young minds. For more information, visit foxtheatre.org\/foxgives<\/a> and stay connected on Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>