Out of adversity often comes strength.

That appears to be the case for this week's John Deere Classic.

Mike Vonderhaar, 2009 tournament chairman, said while the economy did take a bite out of some sponsorships this year - especially for hospitality tents and corporate skyboxes - it actually has worked as a positive for the future.

"We did lose some sponsors, and we had some people scale back," he said. "We also had others in the community step up, and we added some new sponsors.

"But sponsors that had to cut back, they all said clearly they think it is something they did temporarily and want to come back" for future tournaments.

But because some sponsors dropped out, Vonderhaar said volunteers had to "beat on more doors" to find replacements.

One sponsor that reduced its participation this year is Trinity Regional Health System, Trinity spokeswoman Erin Lounsberry said.

"Because of the economy, like many other businesses, we are looking at ways to scale back," she said. "It is not just the John Deere Classic. We had to cut back on some other sponsorships. We had to make some tough decisions."

Trinity will host its own hospitality tent Sunday at TPC Deere Run, as it has in previous years. The cutback is in the number of guests.

Lounsberry said Trinity pays the entrance fee for each person who accepts an invitation. In addition, Trinity provides food and beverages.

While she does not know how much the guest list was reduced, Lounsberry said remaining a sponsor is important.

"This is a really great local event," she said. "With Birdies for Charity, Trinity College of Nursing is a beneficiary of that program. The John Deere Classic is a far-reaching event. As the medical sponsor, we know it is very important to support it because of the significant contributions to the community."

One of the "new" sponsors is the Quad-City International Airport, said Cathie Rochau, the airport's marketing representative. She said Quad-City International actually has been a longtime tournament partner, but in recent years had gotten away from skybox sponsorship.

But with the loss of other supporters, the airport was one of those targeted to become a new sponsor.

"We were approached to support the tournament," Rochau said. "We were approached in a fresh manner, in a new light."

Instead of a tent or skybox, Quad-City International is sponsoring the Jumbotron on the 18th hole - a joint venture between the airport and AirTran Airways.

"The signage, for us, was a good fit," Rochau said.

Mark Reinders, communications manager for MidAmerican Energy Co., said the utility has partnered with the Quad-City Development Group for years in hosting a skybox - sharing the box and the cost. Both are among sponsors that maintained a current level of support.

"We share the hosting, all working together for the same concept," he said. "This is a longstanding, premiere attraction. It is a good opportunity to meet with customers."

Vonderhaar said from the beginning, tournament volunteers have understood what businesses were facing because of the economic slowdown. "Never once was it said to a sponsor, 'You are leaving us high and dry.' We understand," he said.

He said cutbacks included reducing the number of days or hosting a skybox or, in some cases, reducing the size of a skybox or tent.

Dan Kueter, president and chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare of Iowa and Central Illinois, said his organization reduced its skybox sponsorship from four to two days in 2008 and again this year.

But from that cutback was created UnitedHealthcare Community Day, held Thursday in the 15th-hole skybox which otherwise would have been vacant. The day raised funds for Birdies for Charity.

"We trimmed (sponsorship of the skybox) for business purposes, but recognizing the broader need, we created a unique opportunity to raise money where tens of thousands has been raised for dozens of local and regional charities," he said.