Economic tide works against aquarium gala

The Georgia Aquarium’s well-heeled annual gala won’t be quite the fund-raiser it was in the past.

In a sign of the times, organizers at the world’s largest indoor aquarium said they are expecting Thursday’s “Aqua Vino” gala to raise only $50,000, half of original projections. Attendance at the $150-to-$200-per-person shindig is expected to be down by 20 percent to 30 percent, while sponsorship is off by about 40 percent.

The aquarium is not alone. Several fund-raising events have been cut back or shelved this year because of the struggling economy, including the sixth annual “Party for the Kitchen,” which benefits the charity Open Hand.

“The economy is definitely having an impact,” said aquarium spokesman Dave Santucci, who said about 1,000 people attended last year’s fund-raiser. “We planned this nine months ago, before the economy changed.”

Back then, organizers anticipated the event —- which features more than 200 wines from around the world —- would be even bigger than it was in 2007, Santucci said Monday. Feeling confident, they increased the price of tickets by $25 but beefed up the food —- dropping last year’s hors d’oeuvres in favor of full dishes this year from more than 25 of Atlanta’s top restaurants.

Money raised from the gala helps fund the aquarium’s veterinary services, said Santucci.

Despite the downturn, Santucci remained upbeat.

“Raising $50,000 in one night is still a good night,” he said.