Griffins announce youth hockey camps and charity golf classic this summer
The Griffins packed summer with golf, camps and free helmet giveaways, all aimed at funding youth hockey and keeping kids in the game.
The Grand Rapids Griffins are turning summer into a pipeline for the next wave of players and fans. Their calendar blends a major charity golf outing, two youth hockey camps and free bike helmet giveaways, all tied to the Griffins Youth Foundation and the team’s push to stay visible in West Michigan.
The centerpiece is the 32nd annual Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic, presented by Meijer, on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course is hosting one of West Michigan’s premier charitable golf events, and the Griffins say it is their largest fundraiser for the youth foundation. Golfers will tee off in scramble format with morning and afternoon shotgun starts at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and the day includes lunch, 18 holes with a cart, on-course food and beverages, contests and prizes.
American Dunes also adds a distinct charitable layer to the event. The club donates proceeds to the families of deceased and injured U.S. military personnel, while greens fees help support Folds of Honor, the charity founded by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney that provides scholarships to spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members and first responders. Griffins players are set to join supporters for the day, reinforcing how closely the club’s offseason efforts are tied to its community identity.
The development side of the summer slate comes through two weeks of youth hockey camps. The first runs July 20-24 at Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids, followed by an Aug. 10-14 camp at Holland Ice Arena in Holland. Both camps are for children ages 6-14 and feature instruction from Griffins and Red Wings winger Dominik Shine, along with additional appearances by Griffins personnel and current and former Griffins players sharing their experiences on and off the ice. The Belknap Park camp costs $400 and includes a jersey, hat and daily lunch, while the Holland camp is $350 with similar extras.
The summer also reaches beyond the rink and the fairway. The Griffins’ Put A Lid On It! program, founded in 2004 and presented by Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, will power two Lids at the Library helmet giveaways on July 13 and July 15 with the Grand Rapids Public Library and Kent District Library. The events will provide and properly fit 100 free bike helmets for children ages 1-12, with a parent or guardian required to be present and helmets available while supplies last.
Together, the golf classic, camps and helmet giveaways form a clear offseason strategy: raise money, build access and keep young families connected to hockey long before the puck drops again.
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