Everyone is invited to gather at Buffalo Wild Wings in Big Rapids as the Big Rapids Community Library Renovation Team kicks off its fundraising campaign tomorrow to raise more than a $525,000 for the proposed renovation project. Officials say when you present the fundraiser certificate to your server when you make your order Wednesday, 20 percent of your purchases will go to support the Big Rapids Community Library. Certificates can be picked up at the library or can be printed off by going on the Big Rapids Community Library Facebook page.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters organization held a very successful fundraiser last Saturday at The Gate in Big Rapids. They raised close to $11,000 to go towards their general operations fund. Their yearly budget is about $98,000 per year with about $33,000 of that coming from United Way. Their next fundraiser is a golf outing at Spring Valley Golf Course in Reed City on July 12th. The Executive Director of BBBS John Calabrese said that they could use some more Bigs to volunteer due to a recent increase of younger kids.

On February 25th the Polar Plunge will be back to Chippewa Lake. Pat Rosales explains what the polar plunge is for, “Well the Polar Plunge is an annual event for several areas to raise money for special Olympics programs for the athletes to provide their year round sports training for competition”. The polar Plunge is one of the biggest fundraisers for Special Olympics. The minimum donation to enter the Polar Plunge is $75 and all participants will receive a tee shirt. You can sign up at www.somi.org or you can sign up at the event on the day of.

While a field of thoroughbreds will be running for the roses this weekend in Kentucky, Mecosta County Commissioner Linda Howard is hoping donors will be running to their wallets. The 102nd District candidate is hosting a fundraiser at Tullymore Saturday at 4 p.m., just before the Kentucky Derby. To RSVP, call 560-8305.