The Arlington Planetarium may yet be saved from an untimely budget-related demise.

Former Arlington school board chairman Preston Caruthers gave the Donald M. Brown Planetarium a $100,000 challenge grant, meaning that any donation will be matched by funds from Caruthers’ donation until the $100,000 is exhausted.

For example, a $100 donation would actually be worth $200.

With about $250,000 raised, counting Caruthers’ gift, the planetarium is closer to its final goal of over $400,000 needed to make long-needed upgrades to the planetarium, including a new digital projector. If the fundraising goals aren’t met by June, the planetarium will have to be shut down.

Donations can be made through the Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium.