Corporate sponsor dip trims Unforgettable Art profit

May 12th, 2009 at 04:09pm Georgette Braun

The numbers are in regarding the local Alzheimer Association’s Unforgettable Art live auction of 50 artists’ works. And the big one dropped: The April 4 event at the old Rockford Marina building downtown netted $41,000, down from $51,000 last year.

“The place that we were hit the hardest was with our corporate sponsorships, which were down in turn due to the downed economy,” Kate McEnaney, senior manage of special events for the Greater Illinois Chaper of the Alzheimer’s group, said in an e-mail.

Even so, other numbers looked good, she said: Deb Bozien’s painting sold for $2,075. Last year, her abstract painting sold for $2,000, the highest ever.

(Deb Bobzien painting at home this year before Unforgettable Art. Register Star photo.)

Also, the addition this year of an auctioneer to assist the emcee raised the average donation for the paintings. And expenses were down because of those who donated everything from canvas to art supplies to linens, she said. About the same number of people attended this year as last: 350.

“The economy may have hurt us a bit, but overall, this event was truly our best Unforgettable Art to date,” McEnaney said.

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