BELLINGHAM - An anonymous donor has extended his match challenge through the end of December to help the Pickford Film Center raise $225,000 for new digital projectors.

"It's generous," Alice Clark, the film center's executive director, said Monday, Dec. 17.

The donor first indicated he would match dollar-for-dollar up to $32,500 - for a total of $65,000.

With that goal reached by last week, the donor agreed to extend the challenge. Clark called that "the best Christmas present."

The Pickford must buy a new digital cinema package to play movies because Hollywood is phasing out 35 mm film within the next year and focusing on one format.

A digital cinema package is a high-resolution digital projector and a digital server that accepts studio-secured hard drives.

The Pickford wants to be able to have the equipment installed in February.

A total of $118,825 had been raised as of Monday.

To donate and to learn more, go online to pickfordcinema.org, and click on "Your donation will be matched!"

Reach KIE RELYEA at kie.relyea@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2234.