ZELIENOPLE — An anonymous donor has given $100,000 to the Strand Theater, money that will pay off the building's mortgage.

The gift was announced this morning.

The theater, revived and renovated in 2009 after more than 25 years of being out of business, is undertaking a fundraiser to add on to the property.

Strand officials would like to build another stage in the theater as well as construct a two-level parking garage. Those improvements are expected to cost about $6.5 million.

Since the gift paid off the mortgage, the theater now will use the money that had gone for mortgage payments and apply it to other expenses. A portion of the gift money also will go for the fundraising campaign.

Ron Carter, president of the Strand Theater Initiative, in a statement said, “This was one of the most astonishing, humbling and generous gifts I've ever seen.”

The Strand Theater Initiative spent $2.5 million to reopen the property, which shows a variety of live entertainment acts and movies.