DOWAGIAC — A few months ago, the Young Professionals of Greater Dowagiac were brainstorming about how they could make a longer lasting impact on the community.

To achieve their goal, the group will be hosting a Paddling Poker Run to raise funds for its pavilion project, which includes constructing a pavilion at Russom Park in Dowagiac.

The Paddling Poker Run will take place from noon to 4 p.m. this Sunday at Doe-Wah-Jack’s Canoe Rental, 52963 M-51 N., Dowagiac, and end at Indian Lake Pub, 55986 Indian Lake Road, Dowagiac.

Instead of having multiple stops at restaurants like traditional poker runs, attendees will receive their playing cards at the launch, Middle Crossing Bridge, Yaw Street Bridge, when they dock their canoe and at Indian Lake Pub.

“You will get your cards along the way basically,” said Becky Grabemeyer, a member of the Greater Young Professionals of Dowagiac. “We will all end at Indian Lake Pub and see who has the best hand and award prizes at that point in time.”

Grabemeyer said she has heard of other communities hosting poker runs, but has no knowledge of an event like this in Dowagiac. The event was created as one of the group’s members works at the canoe rental company and suggested it would be a unique fundraising opportunity.

The group, which has been around for approximately six years, wanted to have something that would leave a footprint in Dowagiac, Grabemeyer said. After brainstorming, the group discussed multiple capital projects and ultimately decided the community lacked a pavilion at Russom Park.

“It has so many different sports activities where so many families are there during the week,” Grabemeyer said. “Multiple seasons, weekends and everything else, and there are approximately zero places to escape the sun. We really feel like there is a void that needs to be filled.”

After the group decided on the pavilion, different members had skills to contribute to the project. One member, who is an engineer, was able to help the group with designing blueprints. Another member, who is a photographer, designed flyers and pamphlets to show renderings of what the pavilion could look like after its completion. Other members of the group have contributed to the project by offering creative fundraising ideas.

“We are really tapping into multiple members of our group,” Grabemeyer said. “It’s been really great. That’s why we really promote with the Young Professionals of Dowagiac being a volunteer organization that it really takes people of all different backgrounds to make our group better.”

As with past events hosted by the Greater Young Professionals of Dowagiac, teaming up with the local community is vital for the organization’s existence. The group has continued to keep events low cost, while also providing the community with high quality entertainment, Grabemeyer said.

The Young Professionals of Greater Dowagiac encourages those interested in attending the Paddling Poker Run to purchase tickets in advance because costs will increase by $5 the day of. Presale cost of a renting a tandem canoe will be $60 and a single canoe will cost $40. There is an option for attendees to bring their own canoe. Attendees who bring their own two-person canoe will pay $40, and one person will cost $20.

All the money raised at the Paddling Poker Run will be contributed to the pavilion project.

“All the money that we do raise goes right back into the community with a different event,” Grabemeyer said.  “Now, we are working to raise money towards the pavilion, which will be free for the entire community and people from different communities to come and enjoy.”