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By SCOTT NOVAK

scott.novak@leaderpub.com

EDWARDSBURG — Giving Tuesday was very gracious to the Edwardsburg Sports Complex.

Without spring events at the complex, the organization turned to Giving Tuesday, hosted on May 5, to help generate funding for operation costs and ongoing projects.

A goal of $75,000 was set, but when the final numbers were tallied, the complex received more than $84,000 from 42 individuals and organizations.

“We are thrilled at how generous people were,” said Patty Patzer, the complex’s facilities manager. “That was pretty amazing.”

The money will be used to continue the development of the complex.

“With the COVID-19 quarantine, we did not have any spring events here at all,” Patzer said. “That meant no spring player fees, no tournaments, nothing. So, we took advantage of this Giving Tuesday program as a way to help us raise funds we would have normally brought in and used toward every day operating expenses and it can also help us continue with the development.”

That development includes basketball/pickleball courts and the baseball fields.

Although the spring events had to be canceled, several functions were still on the schedule for the summer, including a farmer’s market, which is drawing a lot of attention and excitement.

“We have a lot of people very excited about us doing this,” Patzer said. “It will not be huge, but we have about a dozen vendors. We are anxious to get started, and hope that with that start, people will see and know that we have this farmer’s market, and it will draw more vendors.”

According to Patzer, the farmer’s market will be in the front parking lot of the complex, so it is easily visible from the road.

The Kensnow Goal Scoring Camp had to be canceled for this summer, but the Beasley National Soccer School is still scheduled for July 2 through 24. Players may register by going to the complex’s website at edwardsburgsportscomplex.org.

The annual Edwardsburg Sports Complex Golf Outing is also still set for July 18 at Four Lakes Country Club. More information is also available on the website.