One of Central Oregon’s marquee fundraising events has been placed on “permanent hold.”

The Sagebrush Classic, put on by Deschutes Brewery, has since 1990 raised more than $2 million for area nonprofits by hosting a feast and golf tournament. But after a yearlong 2012 hiatus, the event is “on hold until the economy improves and (until) we can find a new business model that has a great benefit for local not-for-profits, as an event or something else,” according to Deschutes Brewery Chief Operating Officer Michael LaLonde.

For more than 20 years, the annual charitable golf tournament and feast put on by the Deschutes Brewery was a popular summer fundraiser.

In 2010, for example, tickets to the feast sold for $195 per person and showcased more than 20 well-known chefs. The golf tournament featured teams of four players competing for prizes at the 18-hole course at Broken Top Club, with participation costs ranging from $650 to $10,000.

The Sagebrush Classic raised between $2 million and $3 million for Central Oregon nonprofits, primarily the Deschutes Children’s Foundation, over more than two decades. In 2006, LaLonde said, the Sagebrush Classic raised more than $216,000.

But it struggled during the recession, raising about $80,000 in 2009 and then about half that in 2010.

“It continually diminished every year until it lost money in 2011,” LaLonde said.

In 2011, the event morphed into a six-month fundraising campaign that included a scavenger hunt, downtown dining night and private dinners for more than 100 nonprofit organizations.

The idea was that, if area nonprofits worked together to raise money, they would earn matching funds from community members and large donors. In 2011, the nonprofits together raised nearly $750,000, but the match fund raised only about $31,500.

LaLonde said the 2011 events lost $214,000. Deschutes Brewery covered the difference.

“It’s tough to have an event when it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do, which is raise money for not-for-profits,” he said.

After the alternate format was unsuccessful in 2011, the event organizers said they’d take a one-year hiatus to regroup and prepare to relaunch in 2013. That hiatus now continues indefinitely, LaLonde said.

But he said Deschutes Brewery continues its commitment to Central Oregon nonprofits. For example, the company donates $1 for every barrel of beer it sells. This year, that’s about $255,000, with an internal group reviewing applications to determine which nonprofits benefit.

Following up on Central Oregon’s most interesting stories, even if they’ve been out of the headlines for a while. Email ideas to news@bendbulletin.com.

To follow the series, visit www.bendbulletin.com/updates.