Children's Leukemia Foundation fundraiser flops
Event spokesman says few attended, cost high
Elizabeth Willis • The Enquirer • October 19, 2009
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Organizers did not expect to net a profit Sunday at Battle Creek's first Children's Leukemia Foundation fundraiser, hosted by West Michigan Fundraising.
Many supporters and vendors who said they would attend did not, event spokesman Andy Jach said. The venue was more expensive than he had anticipated and a few key celebrities were unable to attend the fundraiser at Kellogg Arena.
All in all, Jach believed that by the end of the night he would be footing about a $1,800 loss.
"We had a lot of people who said they were going to be here cancel at the last minute," Jach said.
After working several years for Race for Kids Sake, a Kalamazoo-based nonprofit started by gear heads and race fans, Jach said he decided to spin off with his own fundraising company.
He partnered with Battle Creek's Barry Smith to start West Michigan Fundraising.
Jach said they hoped to attract Battle Creek's ice hockey fans and blue collar workers as well as its doctors and lawyers to worthy causes.
But an hour after doors opened Sunday, just a dozen or so people had entered for dinner. A car show that should have been in full swing was scattered sparsely across the arena floor.
Tom Smith, 68, entered his 1963 Nova into the points-for-pennies competition. The Battle Creek man said it was a shame the event wasn't better promoted.
Jennie Ritter, the former University of Michigan softball pitcher who led the Wolverines to a College World Series victory in 2005, flew in from Florida to speak at the event. The 25-year-old Dexter native said she was happy to do something for a worthy cause.
"Anytime you have the chance to give back ... it's important that you do it," she said. "To me, that's something you can't miss."
Online sales of autographed memorabilia, including a guitar signed by Eric Clapton that sold to a Texas doctor for $1,250, and other sales might cover the cost of running the event, Smith said.
But if they don't, Smith said he and Jach would split the difference.
"We have to keep our heads up," Smith said. "Kids fighting cancer, they have it much worse off than we do."
Elizabeth Willis can be reached at 966-0684 or ewillis@gannett.com.
claypac wrote:
Replying to HaroldBrookstone:
They should have held it at the mall. At least they would have the mall crowds to donate.
Crowds? At the mall?
therapeuticuse wrote:
The Headline seems a bit tasteless
10/19/2009 10:48:08 AM The Headline seems a bit tasteless therapeuticuse
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Stillafloat wrote:
In this economy who has extra money to donate to anything? Its a shame, so all suffer.
10/19/2009 9:41:07 AM In this economy who has extra money to donate to anything? Its a shame, so all suffer. Stillafloat
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HaroldBrookstone wrote:
They should have held it at the mall. At least they would have the mall crowds to donate.
10/19/2009 9:34:49 AM They should have held it at the mall. At least they would have the mall crowds to donate. HaroldBrookstone
Team USA softball pitcher Jennie Ritter autographs softballs for the Children's Leukemia Foundation fundraiser held Sunday at Kellogg Arena. (Melissa D. Bird/For the Enquirer)
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Jim Delarye speaks with Rick Beebe about his son Dylan who died from Leukemia and how he got involved with the Children's Leukemia Foundation fundraiser (Melissa D. Bird/ For the Enquirer)
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2008 Rookie of the Year stock car racer "Wild" Rose Leland of Wyoming stands next to her car talking with her daughter, Kaylyn Leland. It was Rose's first time participating in the Children's Leukemia Foundation fundraiser. (Melissa D. Bird/For the Enquirer)
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