What an amazing and meaningful evening! On Saturday night, we gathered with many of you to celebrate at the 17th annual Boston Winter Ball. Cathy and I are grateful for the outpouring of support and generosity this community, you, our friends, continue to share in honor of our son, Corey.
I find myself reflecting on a decade of service, love, and impact made possible through the Corey C. Griffin Foundation. Together, we have fostered a profound difference in the lives of so many children and families, all while honoring Corey’s extraordinary legacy.
What sets this Foundation apart is its unique combination of service, collaboration, and philanthropy. Through partnerships with Greater Boston organizations like the Achieve Program at Noble and Greenough School, Campaign for Catholic Schools, My Brother’s Keeper, PALOMA (Police Activities League of Massachusetts), and many others, we focus on creating opportunities and pathways to success for youth, lovingly known as “Corey’s Kids.”
In this way, we were deeply humbled to be able to honor Karen and Rob Hale with the 2025 Humanitarian Award for their commitment to engaging with and uplifting communities and Lisa Warshafsky with the 2025 Outstanding Philanthropy Award for her steadfast commitment to academic access and excellence on behalf of her students as Principal of St. John Paul II Catholic Academy, Lower Mills.
And, what joy to cheer for two incredible young people on their personal journeys of resilience and achievement, Oriana Dunker and Jahzare Haynes, each recognized with the 2025 Youth Courage Award.
Karen and Rob Hale
2025 Humanitarian Award
Lisa Warshafsky
2025 Outstanding Philanthropy Award
Oriana Dunker
2025 Youth Courage Award
Jahzare Haynes
2025 Youth Courage Award
A heartwarming surprise from the evening that has deeply moved our family is the announcement by our dear friend Father Paul O’Brien of Lawrence Catholic Academy that their newly built academic building will be named Corey C. Griffin Hall. We hope this tribute will be a place where children will be nurtured, challenged, and inspired.
I am exceedingly grateful that thanks to your help, our dedicated donors, partners, volunteers, supporters, friends, staff, Board of Directors, and Emerging Leaders Council, we raised more than $2.4 million during the event, now $40 million and in support of over 20,000 children since our founding.
As many of you know, over the past two years, we’ve shifted from growth to longevity, guided by an organizational strategic plan. As part of this long-term planning, we welcomed our new Board Chair, long-time member and dear friend Joe Zink. I am also so proud to recognize my daughter and Corey’s younger sister, Casey Griffin Guidicelli, as our new Vice Chair.
I cannot begin to express my heartfelt gratitude for my brother Corey A. Griffin, younger Corey’s namesake. As our inaugural Board Chair in 2014, with his selfless devotion, gentle kindness, and charming wit, he was the champion we all needed. His leadership during our first ten years built the foundation upon which everything else has grown.
I also want to extend an affectionate, warm thank you to President Chandra Clark, who has embraced Corey’s story, inspires us with her passion, and has helped elevate the Foundation in extraordinary ways over the past two years with us. Her resounding dedication has strengthened our mission, and I look forward to even more success in 2025 under her leadership.
Though the loss of Corey is still intimately felt by our family… and by all of us, time has revealed something beautiful: his legacy continues to grow in ways we never imagined. I know he would be overjoyed by the lives we’ve touched and the love we’ve shared.
As we enter 2025, I humbly welcome you to continue helping us grow this important work. Together, we can support even more children and their families.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey!
With my sincerest appreciation,
Rob Griffin
Founder, The Corey C. Griffin Foundation
To learn more about our work, visit our About Us page or contact President Chandra Clark, [email protected].