A dedicated volunteer, Jenny Griffin is passionate about supporting meaningful causes and devotes her time wholeheartedly in an effort to make a difference. When her friend, Pat Harris, one of the owners of Harris Crab House in Grasonville, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Griffin was inspired by her courage and compelled to help. So, she started a tradition that has grown into a joint effort between Harris Crab House and Bosom Buddies Charities.
“I was working at Harris Crab House as office/restaurant manager, and I developed admiration for Pat as I saw her battle breast cancer with such grace and humor,” Griffin says. “She is a warrior/superhero in the truest sense. I wanted to help Pat and other breast cancer patients, so I decided to host a crab feast to raise money for breast cancer awareness and support. Since I had experience planning events, my co-workers, friends, and I were able to work together to organize the event.”
Indeed, Griffin has put her heart and soul into the cause, and the crab feast that she launched, called Crabs for a Cure, has become an annual event. Now in its eighth year, the popular fundraiser, which is held at Harris Crab House, continues to generate a lot of support, and the proceeds benefit Bosom Buddies Charities. In fact, Crabs for a Cure has raised a little more than $70,000 to date. This year, the event will be held on October 20.
A nonprofit organization, Bosom Buddies Charities was founded in 2007 by Susan Ponchock, a breast cancer survivor who wanted to give back to the community. With a mission to “promote breast cancer awareness, encourage early detection, support treatment, and celebrate healing,” the organization has raised more than $2 million since its inception.
An avid volunteer for Bosom Buddies Charities, Griffin, who is also a member of the board of directors, spends a lot of time planning, organizing, and promoting the organization’s events, including the Bosom Buddies Ball. The annual event is held in January and is a major fundraiser. The 2020 Ball, “Hope Anchors the Soul,” was held at The Westin Annapolis, and plans are already underway for the 2021 Bosom Buddies Ball.
Although 2020 marks Bosom Buddies Charities’ 13th anniversary, the organization is still growing and evolving, thanks to volunteers like Griffin. By combining her talent for event planning that she developed while working for 20 years at Harris Crab House with her love of volunteering, Griffin has brought a new dynamic to Bosom Buddies Charities. And her energy and enthusiasm inspired her to create a new event, the Faces of Courage Dinner, which is held at Fisherman’s Inn in Grasonville every October in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“The Faces of Courage Dinner is an uplifting event that honors and celebrates our friends who are breast cancer patients,” Griffin says. “Now in its third year, the idea originated as a result of the 2018 Bosom Buddies Ball. The theme was ‘Faces of Courage,’ and we spotlighted the people who we serve and their stories. Inspired by this theme, we decided to host an annual event to remind us why we support this cause.” This year, the Faces of Courage Dinner will be held on October 1.
“I’ve had the pleasure of calling Jenny my friend for the past five years,” says Claudia Boldyga, chair of the Bosom Buddies Charities Board of Directors. “She is such a talented, kind person and has the biggest heart. She has always been a valuable asset to Bosom Buddies Charities and gives 100 percent to everything she does. I am truly honored that Jenny is a member of our board of directors, but I am especially proud to call her my friend.”
Griffin, who lives in Chester, is the senior administrative assistant to Dr. Lorraine Tafra, the medical director of the Rebecca Fortney Breast Center at Anne Arundel Medical Center. In addition, she is the past president of Chesapeake Women’s Network and a board member of the United Way of Queen Anne’s County.
“Volunteering serves a great purpose,” Griffin says. “It’s so important to volunteer and give back to your community. I have three daughters and six grandchildren. Imagine what they can do for others by volunteering when a cause touches their heart. I hope that I can lead by example. I also want to encourage people to volunteer for Bosom Buddies Charities. I know that I am just one of many people who dedicate their time and skills to the community. By working together, we are making a difference.”
For more information about Bosom Buddies Charities or to become a volunteer, visit bosombuddiescharities.com.
