DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac native Terri Schmidt has made it her mission to help host corn hole tournaments as fundraisers for anyone who may need assistance.

Her latest fundraiser is looking to help 4-year-old Paw Paw resident Austin Collins who was born without a right ear. At 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, a corn hole tournament will be hosted at the VFW Post 1855 in Dowagiac to help raise money for reconstructive surgery for Collins. The cost of the procedure is $60,000 and not covered by his parents’, Pam and Roy’s, insurance policy, as it is considered a cosmetic procedure, the Facebook event said.

The reconstructive surgery will require a specialized surgeon and can involve two or four different operations separated by several months.

The cost of the corn hole tournament is $20 per person with double elimination. First and second place winners earn a payout. At the event will also be food, a cash bar and DJ.

Schmidt first started to help organize fundraisers in 1997, when she began the Walking Guardian Angels team for Relay for Life. Six years ago, the group stopped participating in Relay for Life and started helping people out in their local community.

“I do fundraisers basically for anyone who needs any financial assistance,” Schmidt said. “Ever since I started it, people would start coming to me after I did the first one and ask me if I would help host others. We recently just had one for a girl who has cerebral palsy. We will do a fundraiser for anyone who needs help, whether it’s for treatments, a wheelchair vehicle or bills.”

Schmidt heard about Collins’ story from Collins’ mother, Pam, who had shared a Facebook post about her family collecting pop tabs to raise money. The family also hosted a golf outing last summer to help raise additional funds. Schmidt also attended high school in Dowagiac with Pam.

Schmidt’s friend, Ronnie Goss, met with Collins and Pam after donating pop tabs and reached out to Schmidt about helping with a corn hole tournament. 

Schmidt encourages businesses to sponsor the event and the Collins family. She works closely with Tanner Melvin at D&R Sports, who makes shirts for the fundraising tournaments. Sponsorship costs $40 and puts business’ names on the back of the shirts. The shirts will be red to honor Collins’ favorite color.

Schmidt said her team also raffles off items people donate or will go out and purchase items to be in the raffle.

Schmidt is hopeful the fundraiser will attract a large number of people.

“I love doing things for other people,” she said. “I always wish we could  do more when it’s over with, but we always appreciate every amount that we get.”

Chris Ott is the organizer of a Go Fund Me started in December 2019, also raising money for Collins’ surgery. 

Collins was born with a condition called microtia and atresia. Microtia is a congenital deformity of the outer ear, which does not allow the ear to fully develop, causing hearing impairments, according to the Go Fund Me’s description.

The page also said Collins loves to run, ride his bike, dance and play. His older sister, Caitlyn, is his best friend, and they enjoy being silly together.

Schmidt, who has yet to meet Collins, said she is looking forward to meeting him at the fundraiser. It is always a special moment for her to meet the person she is trying to help, she said.

“Just to see how happy they are and all the people who come out and support them, I mean, there are always tears,” she said. “It’s amazing how many people come out and support a fundraiser even if people don’t know who they are. It’s a great community.”