DOWAGIAC — Inside of Dowagiac Middle School, 11-year-old Chase Button stood by a display of multi-colored strings and pendants, eagerly waiting to give a sales pitch about his business, Trinkets by Chase, to passersby.

“I’ve been doing this for two years to make my own money, and it’s doing a lot better,” Chase said proudly. “It’s really cool to be a young [business owner]. … For me, it’s awesome.”

As he sold his stash of jewelry and trinkets, Chase was not alone. He was one of the youngest among more than 100 vendors attending an annual arts and craft show in Dowagiac Saturday.

This weekend, Theta Mu sorority hosted its 23rd annual arts and craft show, and organizers said the event was a success that drew 118 vendors. The arts and craft show is the largest single-day fundraiser the group hosts all year.

“We had a great turnout and had great foot traffic all day long,” said Theta Mu president Sherrie File. “I’ve seen lots of people walking out with bags, so it seems it was a successful event for everyone once again.”

All proceeds from the event will be donated to Cass County charities, including Cass County Animal Control, Dowagiac Union Schools, Cass County Cancer Service, and Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services. Additionally, the group funds scholarships for local seniors and sponsors local families during the holidays. Though official fundraising numbers were not tallied by press time, File estimated the event would raise between $1,500 and $2,000.

“For a group of eight, we are able to do a lot,” File said. “We think it is important to do a community event. … It is important to give back. We feel it is important to be committed to a group. There are eight of us, and when it comes time to do something, we really dig in deep and put our heart into it.”

File and the other members from Theta Mu were not the only ones pleased with the event. Several vendors said they enjoyed the event and the fact that it supports local causes.

Joanne Guendel, selling L’BRI Pure n’ Natural products, traveled to the event from Greendale, Wisconsin, located outside of Milwaukee. Saturday marked the second year in a row that she attended Theta Mu’s arts and craft show, and she said the long trip was worth it.

“This is one of the best-run shows I’ve been to, and I do between 10 and 15 shows a year,” she said. “This is a great community, and you can just see that everyone knows everyone and takes care of everyone. I also love that it supports charity.”

Button also said he enjoyed the event and the chance to share his creations with the people of Dowagiac. While he does not always plan to be a business owner — he hopes to study chemistry when he is older — he enjoys running his business for the time being and the independence and responsibility it offers him.

“I’m very proud of him,” said his mother, Amber Blauer, who was selling her hot sauce brand, Amber Fyre, at the craft show. “He’s always been very interested in getting in on the business.”