Monument Academy, March 18 – MA announces anonymous $17 million donation for performing arts auditorium

April 1, 2026

Highlights

At its March 12 meeting, Monument Academy announced a special unveiling event for March 18 at the East Campus gym to showcase fine arts performances.
The unveiling included performances from Shakespeare and Newsies, highlighting the school's commitment to arts education as part of the Legacy in Motion campaign.
A donor gift fully funding the auditorium was announced by Executive Director Collin Vinchattle, identifying the Lundeen family and Lis Richard as contributors and signaling support for an East Campus expansion.
Board President Ryan Graham reported via the MA Facebook page that anonymous donors contributed a $17 million gift to build a 750-seat Performing Arts Center at the East Campus.
The $17 million donation is noted as the largest publicly recorded private gift to a K-12 Colorado public school.
The Legacy in Motion campaign is also pursuing an academic wing and gymnasium.
MA aims to complete track and field facilities to match the new theater and will be ready to break ground once the final permit is received.

By Jackie Burhans

At its March 12 meeting, the Monument Academy (MA) board teased a special unveiling event to be held on Wednesday, March 18, at its East Campus gym.

At its unveiling event, students performed excerpts from Shakespeare and the musical Newsies to showcase the school’s commitment to fine arts. This donation, which fully funds the auditorium, is part of a broader capital campaign called “Legacy in Motion” that seeks donations to build a track and field facility, a gymnasium, and a new high school academic wing.

**Caption**: Artist’s rendering of the exterior of the proposed Performing Arts Center. Courtesy of Monument Academy.

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle recognized the Lundeen family and Lis Richard, who has a long history with MA. He noted that next year is MA’s 30th year. Vinchattle was emotional as he announced this gift that he said would slingshot the MA Legacy in Motion capital campaign to build out the East Campus with an athletic field, an academic wing, and a gymnasium, as well as the Performing Arts Center.

Board President Ryan Graham announced via the MA Facebook page that due to the unbelievable generosity of anonymous donors, MA had received a $17 million gift to build a 750-seat Performing Arts Center at its East Campus. That kind of generosity changes lives and creates a legacy, he said. He expressed his gratitude and asked the community to partner with MA in raising funds to complete its track and field to match the theater that will be built.

This $17 million gift is the largest publicly recorded private donation to a K-12 Colorado public school; the previous record was $6 million. Students spoke about the impact of both the arts education program and the athletic programs, which, they said, fostered a growth mindset and built character through discipline, humility, and resilience.

**Caption**: Artist’s rendering of the interior of the proposed Performing Arts Center. Courtesy of Monument Academy.

MA announced that it is ready to break ground on a new track and field facility as soon as the final permit is received. The event finished with a finale by the school choir performing Walking on Sunshine and Mr. Blue Sky.

Note: More information on MA’s capital campaign can be found at https://www.monumentacademy.net/legacy-in-motion/.

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Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

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