Thanks to Dixie Allen and Stuart Oskamp, the Claremont High School Theatre Renovation Committee is getting even closer to reaching its $1.5 million goal.

Ms. Allen contributed $100,000 towards the project at Thursday’s Claremont Unified School District Board of Education meeting in honor of former CHS Theatre director Don Fruechte. Committee member Bob Fass said the gift was the largest in CHS history.

“When Dixie Allen was approached to support the theatre renovation she had a singular and selfless focus. She knew that her daughter, Alisa, had forged a lifelong friendship with her high school theatre teacher, Mr. Don Fruechte—a man who forever changed Alisa’s life along with scores of others, myself included,” Mr. Fass said.

Inspired by past donations, Mr. Oskamp added another $10,000 towards the renovation by presenting a check to the board. The Claremont Graduate University professor emeritus said he was impressed by how well the theatre program has fared within the current facility and is using his donation as a challenge to CUSD to raise another $30,000 by March 31.

Check out the full story and more school board news in Saturday’s edition of the COURIER.