FROM DISHING ASSISTS TO ASSISTING WITH DISHES

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins will present their fifth annual Tip-A-Griffin fundraiser on Monday, March 12 from 6-9 p.m. at six Gilmore Collection Restaurants throughout West Michigan.

That night, more than two dozen Griffins players, coaches and staff members will trade their sticks for food trays to serve Gilmore patrons as waiters or bartenders. All tips and donations received by Griffins personnel and Gilmore employees during the event will be donated to the Griffins Youth Foundation. Since 2002, Tip-A-Griffin has raised nearly $50,000 for various local charities.

Griffins president Dan DeVos and his wife, Pam, will greet patrons at the Blue Water Grill, while players, coaches and staff will be dispersed as follows to these participating Gilmore restaurants (subject to change):

Blue Water Grill (5180 Northland Dr.)
Jimmy Howard
Evan McGrath
Brad Norton

Rose’s on Reeds Lake (550 Lakeside Dr., East Grand Rapids)
Tom Galvin
Kyle Quincey
Jamie Tardif

Bobarino’s @ The B.O.B. (20 Monroe Ave. NW)
Jeff Campbell
Jonathan Ericsson
Eric Himelfarb
Dan Smith

Mangiamo! (1033 Lake Dr., East Grand Rapids)
Matt Hussey
Jonas Johansson
Ben Simon
Tony Voce
Greg Ireland – Head coach

Ottawa Tavern (151 Ottawa Ave.)
Jon Insana
Derek Meech
Mike Walsh
Jim Paek – Assistant coach
Brad Thompson – Equipment manager

Flat River Grill (201 East Main St., Lowell)
Adam Keefe
Cleve Kinley
Stefan Liv
Ryan Oulahen
Rob Snitzer – Medical therapist

In addition, all proceeds from the event’s live auctions, silent auctions and raffle will benefit the Griffins Youth Foundation. Available items include:

• Custom designed, jersey-inspired aprons that each member of the Griffins will wear during the event. Each apron will be autographed by the Griffins personality and made available during a live auction at each restaurant beginning at 8 p.m.;

• All six locations will offer each of the following though silent auctions from 6-8 p.m.:
• four tickets to a Griffins game, plus dinner for four at that Gilmore Collection Restaurant;
• a Griffins team-autographed stick and puck combo;
• a Griffins team-autographed helmet;
• and a team-autographed Griffins jersey;

• One autographed Steve Yzerman jersey and one autographed Nicklas Lidstrom jersey will be awarded through the purchase of $5 raffle tickets available at each restaurant location.

The Griffins Youth 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.