(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass., March 12, 2017) — Last Friday’s two, sold-out screening of the Oscar-nominated James Baldwin documentary, “I Am Not Your Negro,” at the Triplex Cinema raised more than $2,200 for Clinton Church Restoration (CCR), a local nonprofit working to purchase, restore and repurpose the former Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church in Great Barrington.

After selling out its 100-seat upstairs theater the day before the event, Triplex owner Richard Stanley and manager Lisa Rizzo moved the screening to a downstairs theater that holds 170. The additional tickets sold out within hours of being made available.

“We are in the home stretch,” CCR board member Dennis Powell told the packed house before the film began. “With this screening, the project now has more than 400 individual donors.” Powell is also president of the Berkshire County Chapter of the NAACP.

A reception, courtesy of the Triplex, Rubiner’s, Fuel, the Berkshire Co-op, and Guido’s, was held on the theater’s mezzanine following the screening. Between ticket sales and additional donations, the benefit raised more $2,200 for CCR.

“I Am Not Your Negro” will be shown at the Triplex for the next week, and filmgoers will be given donation envelopes at the box office to encourage support of CCR. Information about the project is available in the Triplex lobby. The nonprofit’s goal is to raise $100,000 by March 31 to purchase the building and cover initial operating costs.

Donations to the Clinton Church Restoration fund can be made online or by check made payable to Housatonic Heritage (with ‘Clinton Church Restoration’ in the memo line) and sent to P.O. Box 611, Great Barrington, MA 01230.