GR8bit Live! Charity Gaming Convention & Music Festival
“GR8bit Live! started as an idea that came to me after a conversation with one of my 6th grade students, who at the time was battling the early stages of leukemia, (which is in now in remission!). He mentioned that the hospital had a number of video games, but there were times when they were all spoken for and thus, he couldn’t play. Since I play guitar in a video game cover band, I thought it would be a great idea to host a charity concert with all the proceeds going toward new gaming equipment for The Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.”
Mark Lago - Founder
In short, GR8bit Live! is a yearly event in West Michigan that raises money for charity. But we are much more than that!
Founded in 2012 by Mark Lago, GR8bit Live! was a means to raise money for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to update their gaming area for the kids. This came about because one of Mark’s students had recently had a stay at the Hospital, and even though his stay was pleasant, he said that there weren’t quite enough games in the game room for everyone. So, Mark took it upon himself and his band ‘Playing with Power’, to put on a charity concert with other video game music cover bands from across the states to raise money for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to purchase new games and gaming equipment for the kids.
GR8bit Live! has seen an explosion of growth and support from the West Michigan community. With almost 800 combined followers on Facebook and Twitter, and a convention event at the DeVos Place in 2015 that saw an attendance of over 750 people come through the door, GR8bit Live! has de nitely been getting attention and expanding!
We are constantly growing and changing here at GR8bit Live! If you would like to sponsor us, have an interest in having a role with GR8bit Live!, would like to be a vendor or performer, or just have a question in general, let us know!
Thanks!
Jay Heinze - Event Coordinator
