Underwriting support from:
A message from station manager AJ Paschka
As you read this article, WYCE 88.1FM is running its 2015 Spring Fund Drive. Listeners are invited to help us keep this unique organization funded. We are a radio station that is listener funded and volunteer powered, which means that community support is of utmost importance. WYCE doesn’t receive funding from universities, governments or religious organizations. It needs the support of community members like you to continue the great tradition of being a bastion of independent radio on your dial. You can call 742-WYCE or give online at WYCE.org.
It has been a few months since I have settled in as WYCE Station Manager and I am able to approach this fund drive with new insights into why this radio station is unique and important to the cultural landscape of the region.
Since joining in at the station, I’ve been lucky to become a part of this tribe of people that is as eclectic as the music that they play. I have been learning a lot and applying my knowledge to completing the new website, updating the in studio performance equipment and streamlining the underwriting process. These efforts lean towards the big question: why is what we do worth it?
The culture of this nonprofit is incredible. It runs on volunteers that pour their time into the station and many have been contributing this valuable element for years or decades. We are able to power the broadcast signal, run the station and upkeep the technology we need due to the generosity of listeners. It really is an incredible situation in which a nonprofit can find itself.
I personally believe that WYCE is one of the essential reasons we will soon be experiencing the next wave of great musical output in Grand Rapids. It is a key element for fostering an inclusive and collaborative music scene in our ever-growing city. While we experienced the critical mass to create a culture of visual arts in downtown with Avenue for the Arts, centrally located art institutions and the ever-popular ArtPrize, we haven’t highlighted the great music. Our local music community has been driving a lot of culture building without getting the visibility it deserves as a creative change-agent. To bolster this movement we need help.
So what happens when you invest in WYCE and support local radio?
● You empower a community that allows musicians to be heard.
● You celebrate local music and provide a platform for it to shine.
● You enable nonprofits to share their mission with the community.
● You foster small local businesses by connecting them with our audience.
● You introduce world class musicians to your town.
● You create a community that is supportive, friendly and welcoming.
● You share moments when music touches our souls.
That is more than a donation - it is an investment.
Consider giving to WYCE 88.1 FM today and help continue to create a community of appreciation and support.
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