Ridgefield's Prospector Theater Lights Up Good Morning America Today, Host T.J. Holmes Arrives with Special Gift

It was a GOOD morning in Ridgefield! Good Morning America turned to The Prospector Theater to bring some extra sparkle to the Oscars® After Party!

With the Prospector Band performing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, GMA host T.J. Holmes and crew put the spotlight on a nonprofit that is changing the world, one movie ticket at a time. 

"I knew that someday, Hollywood would come knocking... today was that day," remarked Val Jensen, the visionary and founder of The Prospector Theater. "This is beyond my wildest dreams."

The nonprofit movie theater has paid $14,000,000 to Prospects, 75% of whom self-identify with a disability. The Theater, which is temporarily closed, has sold more than 630,000 tickets since opening in 2014.

Holmes came bearing gifts - a check for $10,000 was handed to Jensen.

With movie theaters upended by the pandemic and pressures from streaming content, GMA's timing was spot-on. The Prospector Theater is much more than a place to watch a first-run movie, it's a place that lives and breathes (and teaches) a mission of inclusion and diversity. Prospects are provided meaningful employment - important jobs that transform passions into life-long professions.

Prospects donned their own personal sparkle, wearing hot pink and holding signs: 

I add value

"R" word must go

To the White House

Enjoy the show

Save movie theaters

"We make movie-going cool again," said Jensen.

Congratulations to The Prospector Theater and Val Jensen for winning the most important Academy Award of all - recognition for being a force for GOOD.

Read GMA's story here.

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Submitted by New Milford, CT

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