Roger Ebert's Hometown Raising Money For Statue

(CBS) -- Roger Ebert's hometown is raising money for a statue in his honor.

He was Champaign-Urbana's native son. Now, late film critic Roger Ebert's hometown wants to give back.

"We announced a fundraising campaign to commission and install a sculpture of Roger Ebert outside the Virginia Theater," said fundraising organizer Scott Anderson.

He says they want to build a life-size bronze sculpture in time for next year's Ebertfest.

"The sculpture will consist of three theater seats with Roger seated in the middle one displaying his signature thumbs up gesture," said Anderson.

He hopes to raise $125,000 for the sculpture. The Virginia Theater hosts Ebertfest each year. The Pulitzer-Prize winning film critic died in April after a long battle with cancer.