Odeum President Kevin Muoio, left, with members of the Main Street Association – (from left) Jason Beaumier, President Stephen Nelson, and Turkey Trot organizers Michelle Clarke and Amy Moore – as they present a $7,000 check to the Odeum during a Town Council meeting Dec. 15. Photo: EG News

The Main Street Association gave the Greenwich Odeum an early Christmas present this year, handing Odeum President Kevin Muoio a check for $7,000 at the Town Council meeting Dec. 15 – proceeds from MSA’s 4th Annual Turkey Trot Nov. 29.

“It’s such a great, great event. We’re really happy to be the beneficiary,” Muoio said. “Many Odeum volunteers were there for the Turkey Trot and a bunch of us were running it as well.”

Each year, money from the Turkey Trot goes to benefit a local nonprofit. Past beneficiaries have been the EG Interfaith Food Pantry, the EG Animal Protection League and Bob Houghtaling’s Academy Foundation.

For the Odeum, said Muoio, the money represents another big step back toward financial solvency.

“This money goes to bills that we all inherited,” he said. “I’d love to say that this money could go to making major improvements to the facade or the interior, but a lot of this money has already been spent.”

Muoio, who took over as board president in 2013, said the theater still owes about $20,000, which this $7,000 will be used to help pay down.

“We’re getting there. We’re gaining on them,” he said. “Each performance that we put on – obviously successful performances like Cherish the Ladies this month – they go a long way. But this is a big check. It’s amazing. We’re really excited.”

Sign up for the EG News newsletter  here. You can like us on Facebook  here, or follow us on Twitter (@egreenwichnews)  here.

And, if you like what you’re reading, consider supporting East Greenwich News by clicking here.