AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Youth Foundation Announces Changes to Board of Directors

Published on July 6, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Former Grand Rapids city commissioner Lynn Rabaut has been named the executive director of the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation, headlining several changes to the foundation's board of directors as it begins its 12th year of providing ice skating and related programming to the youth of West Michigan.

Bob Kaser, the Griffins' executive director of broadcasting and community relations, has been elected the foundation's president, while Griffins director of media relations Randy Cleves begins his first term on the board.

Rabaut spent eight years (1998-2005) in Grand Rapids city government before joining the Griffins Youth Foundation as a consultant in Dec. 2005. She also served as a consultant for Saint Mary's Hospital from June-Sept. 2005 and was an interim executive director for the Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth from 2001-2002.

A graduate of Grand Valley State University with a master's in public administration and a bachelor's in business administration, Rabaut replaces former executive director Michael Sekulich, who resigned in April following three years with the foundation.

After serving the last five years on the foundation's board, Kaser has accepted an enhanced role as the organization's president. An accomplished, award-winning broadcaster of 27 years, he has taken on leadership of the Griffins' community relations efforts since joining the franchise in 2000.

Kaser, who chairs both the foundation's annual golf classic and its Great Skate event, has helped raise more than $1.1 million over the last four years for local schools, organizations and non-profits - including the foundation - through his oversight of the Griffins' community relations programs.

He assumes the position of Lou Rabaut, a partner at Warner Norcross & Judd LLP who has stepped down after 11 years as president. Rabaut will continue working with the foundation as chairman of its program committee.

Cleves has been with the Griffins and DP Fox Sports & Entertainment since 1999, having also directed the media relations efforts of the Grand Rapids Rampage from 1999-2001. In addition to serving on the committee for the foundation's golf classic since 2002, he founded the team's "Put A Lid On It" helmet safety program for kids in 2004.

A 15-year veteran of public relations in professional hockey, Cleves is an active committee member for both the March of Dimes West Michigan Sports Awards and the Greater Grand Rapids Safe Kids Bike Team.

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.

The foundation's summer programming kicked off yesterday with a five-day ice hockey camp involving nearly 70 children at Griff's IceHouse at Belknap Park (30 Coldbrook NE), and continues July 11 with the start of the annual roller hockey program that includes more than 40 players.

The board of directors for the foundation is chaired by Pamella DeVos and includes Scott Gorsline (DP Fox Ventures, vice president), Tom Hiller (BDO Seidman, treasurer), Terri DeBoer (WOOD TV8), Scott Jacobs (Dean Foods) and Tim Masek (TMB Industries).

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American Hockey League Stories from July 6, 2006


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