Rialto Belongs to the People donation to Joliet theater rejected

JOLIET – The money raised by Rialto Belongs to the People for marquee renovations at the historic building in downtown Joliet was rejected for legal reasons, while the Rialto Square Theatre continues to look for donors to make the project possible.

The rejection of a $13,000 donation by Rialto Belongs to the People is the latest odd development in the saga of the theater’s attempt to replace or renovate its marquee.

Rialto Belongs to the People started as a Facebook page to serve as a rallying point for those who successfully opposed a new marquee design unveiled a year ago while the sign already was in production.

It now is an organization that is scrambling to find all the people who contributed to a GoFundMe site created for marquee donations to ensure it does not face a tax liability on any money Rialto Belongs to the People might hold before the year ends.

“I just wish this had happened sooner,” said Lisa Marie Raucci, co-chairwoman of the organization. “We’re in a crunch. We’re trying to get this done by the end of the year.”

Fewer than 100 people contributed to the GoFundMe site, and most already have received their money back or checks are in the mail, Raucci said. But not everyone who donated gave an address, and Rialto Belongs to the People is trying to track down those donors so it can return the money.

Raucci said the group is asking people who do get money back to donate the money individually to the Rialto. She said Rialto Belongs to the People wants to work with the theater.

“We appreciate the generosity,” said Tricia Simpson, foundation president. “Unfortunately, we were not able to accept the contribution from that group based on the advice of a tax accountant and an attorney.”

Simpson referred questions about the reasons for the rejection to Raucci.

“They wanted to be able to issue tax donation letters to people. If it comes in a lump sum, that would be difficult,” Raucci said. “Personally, I can understand their concern. It’s just very frustrating the way that it came down.”

The group has become the third potential donor that has been thwarted for one reason or another.

Donor Ed Czerkies took back his $350,000 contribution when the Rialto board would no longer commit to a marquee design that included a tribute to his parents.

Joliet businessman Jay Bergman then offered to replace Czerkies' donation if the Rialto would keep the marquee, minus the Czerkies' family tribute. But the Rialto by that time had committed to a public review of the marquee design and rejected Bergman's offer.

The Rialto board has agreed to keep the existing marquee with renovations while updating it with digital lighting and messaging. The Rialto board approved in October a contract for a construction manager on the project. But the $26,895 contract with R. Berti Building Solutions of Crest Hill is on hold until money is available.

Simpson and other Rialto officials have said little about the current effort to find a donor, including how much money the theater is seeking, other than to say the donation search continues.