FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - Officials with the Foellinger Foundation announced Wednesday the Botanical Conservatory and outdoors theatre will receive a one million dollar grant.

It was a much-anticipated gift for the parks and recreation department.

"Getting the gift from the foundation for us wasn't a major surprise," parks department director Al Hall said. "The amount is a shock."

Hall says the theatre will receive a new sound system while the conservatory will use the funds to bring more visitors to the area and become more user friendly.

This isn't the only gift foundation members are giving to celebrate fifty years of history.

They also donated another half a million dollars to nonprofit organizations in Allen county. These include the YWCA, Fort Wayne's Civic Theatre, and AIDS Task Force.

“All I can say is Thanks to the foundation and community,” Hall said.

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