Michelle Griffin is a fighter. And she knows how to inspire others to join the fight. She is active at many levels of JDRF, serving as a family mentor and as VP of Volunteer Engagement for our chapter’s Executive Board of Directors. Her work within our chapter is extensive and invaluable. But her reach is well beyond the Greater Bay Area Chapter. She also serves as California Regional Volunteer Leader, and was inducted into the International Board of Directors last month. Her favorite volunteer activity, however, is at the grass roots level that has made JDRF so successful: serving as a member of her son’s Walk team for the last six years. She explains, “I had never found it easy to ask other people for money, until my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) six years ago at age nine. I feel so strongly that JDRF is the organization that will make my greatest wish come true – to lift the daily burden of this disease from my son – that it has made me very comfortable asking my friends and family to support our mission.”

Michelle says, “I am always very moved on Walk day to witness the dozen or so of Cameron’s teenage friends, who are there to support him and help us reach our team’s fundraising goal. I think it might be the only day he doesn’t mind so much that he has T1D and that feels priceless to me.”

Michelle has boundless energy and passion for her work with JDRF. She proactively shares best practices, ideas and resources creating a culture of collaboration for the greater good of our organization. She says, “While I still have a magnet on my refrigerator that says “Stop me before I volunteer again”, I truly enjoy volunteering for JDRF. I love the idea of in my own small way helping JDRF create a world without T1D. We need lots of volunteers to make this happen and I hope you will join us.” Michelle resides in Mill Valley, California, with her husband Tom and two sons.