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$10 to honor Ten Years

Gwyneth's Story

Ten years ago Gwyneth Griffin suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. What she needed was for someone to quickly respond and give her hands-only CPR. Just a few weeks after her 13th birthday, Gwyneth passed away as a result of this incident. Gwyneth is our WHY.

Gwyneth was a happy, carefree, loving, and beautiful young lady. She enjoyed many activities and sports, but dance was what her heart loved the most. Gwyneth learned ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical styles from the age of four but would ultimately fall in love with Irish dance. To read more about Gwyneth, click here.

Our Why

Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation was formed in Gwyneth’s honor and memory. She is the reason we started, but the reason we continue is because of the lives that are saved every day thanks to proper CPR and AED training.

To date, we know of at least seven lives that have been saved because of our training and because of Gwyneth.

Gwyneth is the driving force behind everything we do. We honor her spirit by working to fulfill our mission to create a world where everyone can save a life.

How Can You Help?

100% of donations made to Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation go towards our foundation programs: CPR & AED Training, AED Placements, Awareness Events, and Scholarships.

We provide these services to our community free of charge. It’s our goal to empower citizens in our communities to save a life by knowing, and being comfortable with performing, Hands-Only CPR and how to properly use AEDs.

In 2022, we are asking that you donate $10 to honor Ten Years since Gwyneth’s passing. If everyone in our communities makes a small contribution, the impact will be huge. This money means more trainings and more AED placements, which will save more lives! Please help up advance our Culture of Action by training and empowering our communities with a donation today!

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Shannon Frick

Program Manager

Shannon is the Program Manager at Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation, where she oversees all programs, including CPR & AED training, the AED program, the Scholarship program, and the volunteer program. Coming from a military family, Shannon has traveled the world but calls Northern Virginia her home after more than 20 years in the area.

She graduated from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, with a degree in English and later earned an associate’s degree in emergency medical science from Northern Virginia Community College to pursue a career as a first responder. Shannon served as a professional Paramedic/Firefighter for 13 years with the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue. During her tenure, she spent over half of her career in the training division.

Shannon’s extensive instructional experience provides her with a deep understanding of effective teaching methodologies and practices, making her an invaluable asset in delivering successful CPR & AED training to all groups of all ages. Her role at Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation aligns perfectly with her background, as she works to equipe community members with the skills and confidence to perform Hands-Only CPR and use AEDs, ultimately saving lives.

When she is not instructing, Shannon enjoys spending time outdoors. She may be out snowboarding, paddleboarding with her corgi, training her deaf pitbull sign language commands – or just running after both of them with her fiancé at the dog park.

Email: SFrick@gwynethsgift.org 

Joel Griffin

Chairman & Co-Founder

Joel Griffin is co-founder and chairman of Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation. Gwyneth’s Gift was founded in 2015 by Joel and Jennifer Griffin in honor of their oldest daughter, Gwyneth. He is also an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with 25 years of private industry consulting experience and 20 years in government contracting. He is the Founder and CEO of Riphean, a regional growth management firm.

Joel is committed to philanthropy within the region through local nonprofits and organizations that strengthen local communities. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, Stafford Hospital Foundation, and Germanna Educational Foundation. Joel was recognized for his impact and leadership within the region, receiving the Prince B. Woodward Leadership Award in 2022.

In addition to the regional award, Joel received the Valor Award from Loudon County for his life-saving efforts in an emergency. He also received the Patriotic Civilian Service Award given by the U.S. Army for actions taken immediately and following 9/11 at The Pentagon in 2001.