Griffins raise $875,816 for West Michigan charities and schools

More than $875,816 flowed from Griffins community programs and charitable efforts into schools, organizations and nonprofits across West Michigan during the 2025-26 regular season and playoffs, a total that showed how a season at Van Andel Arena reached far beyond the standings.

The largest share, $356,696, went to the Griffins Youth Foundation, which was established in 1995 and says it serves nearly 500 boys and girls at no cost. That money helps keep co-ed hockey, a girls-only division, learn-to-skate classes and the Grand Rapids Sled Wings sled hockey team available for children and teens, including players with physical disabilities.

The foundation’s haul was built from a wide range of club efforts. The 31st annual Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic brought in $102,500, the in-game 50/50 raffle added $101,153, the Detroit Red Wings’ Red & White Game contributed $83,765 and the 21st annual Great Skate Winterfest produced $58,007. Tip-A-Griffin added $3,629, the Griffins and Sled Wings Sled Hockey Game generated $2,042 and Charitable Goals supplied another $5,600 for the foundation.

The rest of the club’s charitable calendar produced similarly concrete results. Six post-game jersey auctions raised $87,532, Throw for Dough added $68,140 and community ticket donations and group fundraisers brought in $349,367. Another $18,180 came through Charitable Goals, the program that triggers donations when a player scores a goal or makes a save, or when the Griffins kill a home penalty or score on the home power play. In practice, that means on-ice moments can become dollars for local causes before the crowd has even left the building.

Great Skate Winterfest remained one of the franchise’s most visible fundraisers. The 21st edition was held Jan. 17-18, 2026 at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids and was presented by the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation and Meijer. The event runs as a 24-hour skating marathon, with every Griffins player and coach skating with fans for at least one hour, and its online donation pages added $33,801 more.

Several names stood out in the year’s giving. Brad Thompson led the Great Skate online campaign with $2,900, followed by Bob Kaser at $2,155 and Ian Mitchell at $650. John Leonard and Acrisure generated $3,300 for the Griffins Youth Foundation through Charitable Goals, while Eduards Tralmaks and BHS Insurance raised $2,600 for Feeding America West Michigan. Sheldon Dries and Fox Motors donated $2,300 to the Youth Foundation, Griffins goaltenders and Kilwins raised $1,830 for Kids’ Food Basket and the home power play with Chick-fil-A sent $1,700 to Mel Trotter Ministries.

The club’s total marked a sharp jump from the more than $530,000 it raised in 2024-25, underscoring how the Griffins have turned their hockey schedule into a year-round charitable engine. Bob Kaser said the organization’s community work has helped raise nearly $9 million for local charities over the last 23 seasons, and this latest total showed the scale of that footprint in West Michigan.