How does one begin to describe Inez McDonald?
Do you start by saying how spry, fit and sharp she is at 99 years young?
Or do you first say what a generous philanthropist to the St. Augustine community she is, demonstrated by her annual donations to local nonprofits?
These amazing traits will come together in December when she celebrates both her 100th birthday at a party in the Limelight Theatre and her donation to the theater of $100,000. In turn, Limelight will honor her by naming its large stage the Inez McDonald Main Stage.
Why Limelight?
“I have been a fan of Limelight and its excellent productions since its early days, even before it had a building of its own,” McDonald said.
And now that Limelight has its own building, there are lots of needs that McDonald’s gift will help.
Limelight Improvements
“There is nothing glamorous about the fundamental needs of a new roof and some electrical upgrades that we settled on,” Limelight Theatre executive director Sherrie Provence said, “but we also decided with a portion of the gift to upgrade our main stage by getting a new projector and Cyclorama wall to both elevate productions and use as a film screen.
“Inez said that one of the things she missed was being able to watch films at the St. Augustine Art Association. Since the Limelight was also looking to support the St. Augustine Film Festival, this seemed like a great opportunity to do many things all at once. We are getting some assistance from Spencer Glover (JSL-Jax Stage) to do these upgrades. We hope to offer movies weekly in a matinee time slot mid-week and on occasional Sunday nights.”
Inez McDonald’s Influence
When asked why she makes these annual $100,000 donations, McDonald replied, “I want my legacy to be that Inez McDonald is remembered for recognizing the needs of St. Augustine and did her best to address those needs. There is joy in giving to this wonderful town I love so much.”
Provence said that it is not only McDonald’s generosity that is impressive. It is the woman herself.
“From the moment I met Inez, this 99-year-old firecracker has inspired me,” she said. “Her insight and motivation challenge me as a woman; her creativity and vision for how to make an impact in her community made me realize the countless ways to make a difference … big and small. For as generous as she is with her large monetary gifts, she also knits and gives away everything she makes to those in need. And Inez has managed to sustain an incredibly physically fit body at 99, sharing that she started ‘pumping iron’ at 80!”
Limelight Theatre Guild volunteer Linda Roberts remembers well those pumping days.
“I met Inez in an exercise class called Pump,” she said. “It incorporated weightlifting with cardio moves. We worked out together for several years, and our class celebrated her 90th birthday. I am honored to know her and strive to emulate her.”
The trim and well-coifed McDonald still has a regime of daily exercise that includes 60 squats (down from the 100 she did until recently) and pumping five-pound weights. Additionally, she is active in a tai chi group and Creative Crafters; she knits prayer shawls for St. Anastasia Catholic Church to give to those in grief.
How and Why McDonald Donates
McDonald attributes her ability to make these donations to managing her savings and income when she was the assistant for 25 years to the executive director of a large public relations organization in Washington, D.C., and to the fact her two daughters are doing well on their own.
She attributes her desire to donate to how pleased she is to have retired to St. Augustine and enjoyed her life here. Specifically, she began a whole new adventure of ballroom dancing at the Riverview Club and other venues that she continued until COVID. She also became active in staying fit and belonging to a gym.
Recipients of McDonald’s Generosity
McDonald’s donations to Habitat for Humanity began in 2008. In 2009, she began $10,000 matching gifts to encourage others to donate to Habitat for Humanity and St. Francis House. Since 2020 she has increased her generosity to donations of $100,000 to:
What Limelight Theatre Does for the St. Augustine Area
Limelight Theatre, founded in 1992, presents an annual season of nine plays, ranging from Broadway musicals to classical and contemporary dramas. Additionally, it offers a dozen or so varied musical and dramatic shows on weekends between plays. They include staged readings, western to classical music groups, taletelling and improv shows.
Limelight also has a children’s education and summer camp program for kindergartners through high school seniors, with scholarships available for those in need. Additionally, the theater has worked with The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, teaching on-stage spatial awareness.
Limelight’s three on-site entertainment venues are now the Inez McDonald Main Stage, the Matuza Black Box Theatre and a Boxcar Outdoor Theatre near the parking lot.
The Legacy Will Live On
“I am so grateful and honored that Inez chose Limelight to be part of her legacy,” said Provence. “Her gift will create a ripple effect that will live on through the stories we tell in our productions, and in the lives, young and old, that will be part of the creative magic of making theatre for generations to come. Thank you, Inez McDonald!"
