Match grant for Oakland Ballet

The Oakland Ballet, which canceled its fall season because of financial woes, has received a $200,000 matching grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

If the matching money is raised, the company will have most of the $500,000 it says it needs by May 31 to continue daily operations. It said it already had raised more than $53,000 since announcing its emergency campaign April 7.

The Oakland Ballet blamed declines in ticket sales and contributions for its debt.