Feel the love for the Rapidian at Brewery Vivant this Sunday

Every year when the NPR fund drive comes around I am tempted to change the station, and I hate to admit it, but I usually do. I think to myself NPR is huge, they're national, they have wonderfully generous people supporting them all over the United States and they even recieve donations from listener's around the world. I rationalize not giving because I firmly believe they will continue to do well without my meager donation. However, my conscience eventually starts eating at me because I am an NPR junkie who depends on NPR to find out what's going on in the world at large.

But what about local news? We in the city of Grand Rapids have a terrific, citizen driven, online resource to document and inform us about what's happening in this fair city of ours. Unlike NPR, The Rapidian is fairly new (founded in 2009) and it doesn't have a national or an international platform. In fact, The Rapidian prides itself on being "hyperlocal," which means it is focused on the people, issues and day-to-day events in our town. What keeps The Rapidian thriving is the community-wide support from Grand Rapidians like you and me: staff, contributors, volunteers, and readers.

This year marks the first year that The Rapidian is putting on a Spring fund drive with the achievable goal of getting 250 new donors by April 29. To cap off a successful fund drive (fingers crossed) there will be a Community Celebration in the beer garden at Brewery Vivant on Sunday from 1-4. The first 50 people will get a beer token just for coming out to show their support, Stellafly will be providing a photowall and a large variety of items will be up for bidding in the silent auction.

Come and share your G-Rap love for delicious, locally brewed beer and for The Rapidian, an online news source that exemplifies what is exceptional about the people who have made Grand Rapids their home.