Roger Ebert's widow announces matching gift of $25,000 from his nonprofit towards goal of erecting bronze statue of critic in his hometown.
"The nonprofit group headed by Roger Ebert's wife will match up to $25,000 in donations toward a bronze sculpture honoring the late film critic. The life-sized sculpture will be installed outside the Virginia Theatre in Champaign where the annual film festival called Ebertfest is held. Ebert grew up in neighboring Urbana and attended the University of Illinois. He died in April at age 70 following a long battle with cancer. The statue will depict Ebert sitting in a theater seat making his iconic 'thumbs up' gesture. The project's budget is about $122,500, according to a Sunday story by the (Champaign) News-Gazette." -- Associated Press
