A busy season of community programs is wrapping up, and summer will soon bring the annual Youth Hockey Camp and Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic. In addition, here’s your chance to honor the Griffins’ captain and meet a Super Bowl champion!

Fans and Fundraisers
Thank you, Griffins fans! The Great Skate at Rose Parks Ice Rink in mid-January and Tip-A-Griffin at Gilmore Collection restaurants on March 12 combined to raise approximately $25,000 in support of the Griffins Youth Foundation. The foundation was established in 1995 to expand the opportunities for participation in ice skating and related sports and activities, and to encourage academic excellence, community involvement and healthy lifestyles among the youth of West Michigan.

In conjunction with partners such as the Griffins, the City of Grand Rapids, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails, the foundation provides a variety of programming to underserved and at-risk youth at its “home ice,” Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park. Nearly 300 kids play in the foundation’s 1-2-3, 46er, 79er and Girl Scout Hockey programs, and the foundation supports another 25 members of the Grand Rapids Sled Wings sled hockey team. During the summer, dozens of others participate in the foundation’s ice hockey camp, roller hockey program, and inner-city high school skills camp. For more information, visit griffinskids.org.

Griffins Youth Hockey Camp
Learn from the pros! The Griffins Youth Hockey Camp will take place Aug. 6-10 and 13-17 at Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park. The camp features instruction from Griffins assistant coach Jim Paek, former Griffin and current Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski, and Kentwood native Mike Knuble of the Philadelphia Flyers. Children 6-16 years of age are welcome to participate at a cost of $300 per week, which includes 15 hours of ice time, dry-land training and video sessions, plus a jersey, T-shirt, hat and daily lunch. Click here for a camp brochure and registration form.

Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic
The 13th annual Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic returns Aug. 30 to Railside Golf Club in Byron Center. Last year’s event raised in excess of $92,000 for the foundation and the underprivileged and underserved kids it supports. In addition to Griffins players and coaches, several other celebrities from the hockey world have attended this premier event in recent years, including Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland, assistant GM Jim Nill and broadcaster Ken Kal, as well as Jack O’Callahan and Ken Morrow, members of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Team. For information on foursomes and sponsorships, call (616) 774-4585 ext. 3027.

Griff’s Reading Goals
Thousands of kids throughout West Michigan are participating in Griff’s Reading Goals, a new program that encourages K-6 students to read. Program bookmarks have been distributed with the support of the Grand Rapids Public Library, the Kent District Library, the Kent Intermediate School District, the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, and Wendy’s of Michigan restaurants.

Griff’s Reading Goals rewards students for every hour of reading they complete. When a child reads three times for at least 20 minutes per session, they receive a free Wendy’s Jr. Frosty. When they read three more times for 20 minutes each, they receive a free Wendy’s Kids’ Meal. Finally, when they read three more times for 20 minutes each, they receive two free tickets to a select Griffins game. The last two remaining redemption dates are the Griffins games on March 31 and April 6.

Congratulations to all the students who are reaching their reading goals!

“Give and Go” Food Drive
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Griffins’ two “Give and Go” food drives on Feb. 16 and March 6. With your generosity, we raised $1,748 and 874 food items for donation to four local ministries: Degage Ministries, God’s Kitchen, Guiding Light Mission, and Mel Trotter Ministries.

2007 Mentor West Michigan Sports Awards

Tony Dungy, head coach of the Super Bowl XLI champion Indianapolis Colts, will be the keynote speaker at the 2007 Mentor West Michigan Sports Awards. The 10th annual event, now a black-tie optional fundraiser for Mentor West Michigan, will take place on Monday, May 14 at DeVos Place.

The public is invited to join the celebration as the area’s best professional, amateur, college and high school athletes, teams, coaches and administrators are honored for their achievements over the past year. This year, captain Matt Ellis will be honored as the Griffins Player of the Year. The evening starts with a 6 p.m. reception and silent auction, with dinner and the program beginning at 7 p.m.

Several opportunities exist for individuals and organizations to participate in the evening. General admission tickets are $125 and corporate tables for ten are $1,000, as are individual VIP tickets that include a private reception with Dungy. In addition, $10,000 corporate sponsorships and a $25,000 underwriting opportunity are available. To purchase tickets and sponsorships or obtain more information, please visit mentorwestmichigan.com.

Mentor West Michigan is a non-profit organization founded by Executive Director Roy A. Clark, who has spent many years working with at-risk and troubled youth. He saw firsthand the positive impact mentors had on these kids and the overwhelming need to fill the primary void in their lives – the need for a healthy relationship that offers hope.

Currently, there are more than 1,000 kids in Kent County awaiting mentors, mostly young boys between the 6th and 9th grades. That’s why Mentor West Michigan has launched a campaign to recruit “2,000 Men For 2010.” Through this aggressive, integrated, multi-media campaign, they work with local agencies such as the United Way, YMCA and Bethany Christian Services to provide mentors for every child in need.