DOWAGIAC — A Dowagiac group is currently seeking — and receiving — donations to be able to host a city tradition for the fifth year in a row.

The Young Professionals of Greater Dowagiac will host a fireworks display in celebration of the Fourth of July at dusk on June 29. This year’s event will mark the fifth year the young professionals have hosted the firework display, which they revived after nine years of the city having no Fourth of July display whatsoever. Because of this, the group is making the grand finale of the fireworks display more grand than past years, according to Becky Grabemeyer, a representative with the group.

“We wanted to do something special to celebrate,” Grabemeyer said. “We really love this event and to provide for free to the people of Dowagiac. … It is a great event and something that we need here.”

To cover the cost of the fireworks display, the young professionals are currently seeking donations. So far, Grabemeyer said the group has received nearly 50 donations, yet the group remains nearly $2,000 shy of its goal.

At the time of publication, the young professionals had received grand finale donations in the amount of $500 from the following individuals and businesses: Accounting Consultants PC, the family of Sarah Mathews, F&V Operations & Resource Management, McDonald Underground and Honor Credit Union. Southwestern Michigan College also donated $1,200 to the fireworks display.

“We are grateful to our community for supporting us and helping to make this happen,” Grabemeyer said. “It is great to see the whole community get behind an event like this that is great for our whole community.”

Each year thousands view the fireworks, typically watching the show from Russom Park, the high school parking lot, the Dowagiac airport, the former soccer fields near Premier Tool & Die Cast Machining,  National Guard/the Armory, and Victory Tabernacle Church, along with any place having a clear view of the sky above the airport, Grabemeyer said.

Being part of the tradition is what inspired Honor Credit Union to become a grand finale sponsor, according to Janie Reifenberg, branch manager with Honor Credit Union.

“We love to support community events and things that really benefit Dowagiac,” Reifenberg said. “I think [the fireworks are] really great and something that people look forward to every year. It was clearly something people missed before the young professionals brought it back. Everyone believes in this event.”

Grabemeyer said she is confident the young professionals will reach its donation goal for the fireworks and is hopeful that the group will be able to provide the tradition for Dowagiac for years to come.

She added that the fireworks were just the beginning for the young professionals. Since the group started hosting the fireworks, it has taken on additional projects including a daddy-daughter dance. Right now, Grabemeyer said the group is looking for new members so that it can provide even more services to residents of Dowagiac.

“We are always looking for new members to help make Dowagiac, the place we live, work and play in a better place,” Grabemeyer said. “Everyone brings something to the table. The more diverse our group gets the better ideas we are able to come up with along with accomplishing more.”