GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. The Grand Rapids Griffins and the American Heart Association are proud to introduce Hockey for the Heart, the latest addition to the teams expanding stable of community partnerships.

The program, formed to support the Associations mission of reducing disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke, currently consists of two components: a sponsor-driven pledge program, and the Grand Rapids Heart Walk, an annual event that will relocate to the streets near Van Andel Arena this fall.

For every goal scored by the Griffins at home from Jan. 20 through the end of the regular season, Huntington Bank, Colburn Hundley, Inc. and Fox Motors will jointly donate $100 to the Association. The Griffins AHL-leading offense has generated $5,300 to date, thanks to the generosity of the three sponsors, whose support will also include the entire 2006-07 regular season.

Huntington Bank is proud to support the Griffins and this very unique community-minded program, said Mike Lindley, vice president, director of marketing for Huntington Bank West Michigan.

The 2006 Grand Rapids Heart Walk is an outdoor fundraising walk scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14. Griffins fans and American Heart supporters will be encouraged to solicit donations for participating in the walk around a course in downtown Grand Rapids.

Were excited to partner with the Griffins during this high-scoring season, said Linda Kiander, corporate events director for the American Heart Association. Partnerships like this raise funds for research and educational programs that help make Grand Rapids a healthier community, leading to stronger, longer lives for everyone.

Heart health is an intensely personal issue for both Griffins president Dan DeVos and Colburn Hundley principal Jeff Hundley, as both of their fathers have undergone major heart surgery.