Griffins Youth Foundation Mission
Established in 1995, the Griffins Youth Foundation promotes academic excellence, community involvement and healthy lifestyles among the youth of West Michigan, enhancing their lives through hockey and ice-related sports. The foundation was formed by Dan DeVos, majority owner and president of the Grand Rapids Griffins, and his wife, Pam. In conjunction with partners such as the Griffins, the City of Grand Rapids, Davenport University, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Special Olympics, and Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails, we offer a variety of programming to underserved, underprivileged and at-risk youth in our community at our home, Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park. For well over a decade, we’ve worked to eliminate the high financial and logistical barriers that prevent children from playing hockey and related sports, and the benefits gained by our kids and our community have been immeasurable. Children involved in our programs are more likely to stay in school and out of trouble, and less likely to use drugs or get pregnant. Through something as simple as hockey, we all benefit.
Different Programs
1-2-3 Hockey:
Hockey instruction and games for first, second
and third grade children.
46er Hockey:
Hockey instruction and games for fourth, fifth
and sixth grade children.
79er Hockey
Hockey instruction and games for seventh,
eighth and ninth grade children.
Girl Scout Hockey:
In partnership with the Girl Scouts of Michigan
Trails, this instructional hockey program is
made up of area girls in grades 5-9 and consists
of an all-female coaching staff.
Sled Hockey:
Hockey instruction for physically challenged
youth. Sled hockey rules are virtually identical
to traditional hockey, except participants are
on bladed sleds.
The Grand Rapids Sled Wings: a team of physically
challenged teenagers, are sponsored by
the foundation in partnership with Mary Free
Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. They became the
first junior-level sled hockey team in Michigan
upon their founding in 2001.
Open-Skating Programs:
In addition to hockey programming we also offer
ice skating opportunities, including holiday lunch
skates and Special Olympics speed skating.
Summer Roller Hockey:
Roller hockey instruction for fourth through
ninth grade children.
Rosa Parks Circle:
We also provide all the skates for Rosa Parks
Circle Ice Rink, the downtown outdoor ice rink