FRANKLIN—The inaugural Give Us Hope art auction and reception, sponsored by the Southampton Memorial Hospital/East Pavilion Memory Walk team, drew more than 80 people to Cypress Cove Country Club Thursday evening with proceeds topping $3,500 going to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Artwork created by six East Pavilion residents went up for bid, led by host John Moore Drewry of Courtland. Bradshaw’s Picture Frame Shop in Suffolk, Hollowell’s Art Studio in Carrsville and Franklin Art & Frameworks in Franklin donated the matting and framing for the pieces.

Paintings by Nathaniel Holloway (Helping Hands) and Lilly Belle Faison (The Camellia) went for $350 each. The other artists included Rose Kitchen, who was the only artist able to attend the auction, Margie Ritter, Eunice Rice and Mable Everett. Each painting sold for $200 or more.

&uot;Between tickets sold for the auction, donations and the artwork sold, we raised $3,536 for the Alzheimer’s Association,&uot; said East Pavilion Activities Director Melissa Flythe.

Prior to the auction, Southampton Memorial Hospital CEO Sean Dardeau welcomed guests and Dr. Michael Ponder spoke about Alzheimer’s disease statistics.

Susan Story, Alzheimer’s Association Education and Family Services coordinator and Franklin branch manager, called the event &uot;perfect.&uot;

&uot;It was a phenomenal night,&uot; she said. &uot;The hospital did such a great job. It was literally standing-room only.&uot;

According to Flythe, the proceeds from the auction brings the total to $5,600 the team has raised this year for the cause. Sales from a dessert bake-off, a cookie sale and a yard sale have contributed to that total.

East Pavilion Administrator Esther Francis said, &uot;We really want to thank the community for all their support with this event and the people at the Country Club for all they did.&uot;

The team members said they are looking forward to next year’s Give Us Hope art auction.