Volunteer at the sixth annual GRandJazzFest

GRandJazzFest volunteer, board member and longtime City of Grand Rapids resident Molly Klimas will be the first one to say, “I didn’t know much about jazz – or even if I liked it – when I got involved in GRandJazzFest in 2012. Today, jazz is my favorite go-to music – and it’s all because of this festival.”

GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation enters its sixth year this August. The free, weekend-long event is Aug. 19 and 20 at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids.

The nonprofit festival is seeking volunteers to help distribute event programs, work the merchandise tent and assist with other tasks that help the popular summertime event run smoothly – and keep it free for everyone who attends.

Volunteering is also a way to better get to know people in the community. Says Klimas: “I’ve met and worked alongside people who have become great friends. Jazz has this way of bringing all kinds of people together. We need events like this that celebrate our diversity and togetherness.”

GRandJazzFest was founded by Audrey Sundstrom, a longtime Grand Rapids resident who is married to City of Grand Rapids Manager Greg Sundstrom. The couple has gone to jazz festivals for years across Michigan and beyond.

“Grand Rapids and West Michigan are home to some great jazz events and organizations,” Audrey Sundstrom said. “Our festival rounds out the jazz scene here by offering a free, weekend-long event. I love how so many of us in this community are committed to celebrating jazz, which is THE great American art form.”

GRandJazzFest volunteers will receive a free festival T-shirt, food catered by Gilmore Collection, plenty of cold bottled water and the opportunity to have that insider perspective of how a festival is run. Three-hour shifts are available to assist in presenting this event to the community.

Learn more about how to get involved with GRandJazzFest at http://grandjazzfest.org/volunteers/.