Young Professionals create Dowagiac-inspired Christmas ornaments to raise funds for fireworks

Published 8:03 am Thursday, August 25, 2016

With the aim to actively engage the community and its businesses, the nonprofit Young Professionals is known for hosting the daddy daughter dances and the annual firework show. This year they continue another tradition that might just make a great Christmas gift.

To support the firework show, the group devised a crafty way to raise funds and do something to celebrate the town — they created Dowagiac-inspired Christmas ornaments to sell. This year, their ornaments will be modeled after the Dowagiac business the Round Oak Stoves and will be available for purchase for $25 at the Under the Harvest Moon Festival Oct. 8.

Young Professionals member and co-founder, Jason Wilt said the Round Oak Stove, which was founded in Dowagiac in 1871, played a big part in the town’s initial growth. Even though it no longer remains in the area, it will always be a part of Dowagiac’s history. Wilt said even today, the classic stoves are still seen across the country.

“We wanted to do something that would highlight the unique history of Dowagiac,” Wilt said.

Wilt is the director of housing at Southwestern Michigan College and a co-founder of Young Professionals. Wilt lived in the Detroit area before moving to Dowagiac and said the community focus that is central to Dowagiac made he and his family feel at home.

While the Young Professionals consists of around 20 people, their efforts have made a difference to hundreds who come to enjoy the firework show, said Wilt.

“Local events make people want to stay here.” Wilt said. “We want to try to bring in opportunity and experiences here.”

Last year, the nonprofit sold over 200 of the ornaments modeled after the Dowagiac Union mascot. This year, Wilt said he hopes they can sell at least that many.

The Round Oak Stove ornaments will also include a stand to show off the ornament on a mantel or year round on a shelf, said Rebecca Kellogg, a member and treasurer for Young Professionals.

The hand-painted ornaments display the old-fashioned barrel shape of the Round Oak Stove, the year 2016 and a Dowagiac, Michigan nameplate.

“The proceeds go toward funding the fireworks, which is a tremendous community event that everyone seems to love and gets better and better every year.” Kellogg said.

Like Wilt, Kellogg is a Dowagiac transplant. Her family moved around from Canada to South Bend to Decatur, before they settled in Dowagiac.

Kellogg owns and operates her own local business, Blueprint Photography. She said Young Professionals gave her a way to connect and to do something beneficial for her community.

“I thought it was really important to get involved in the organization,” Kellogg said. “And just being part of an organization that looks to the future and wants to benefit the people of Dowagiac.”

Ornaments can be pre-ordered online at ypdowagiac.wixsite.com/uniquelydowagiac. There are still a few Chieftain ornaments from last year available for purchase. Visit the website for more details.