PPB January 2019

T he act of volunteering, in its most basic description, is simply helping someone in need. It’s a lesson that Daryll Harris Griffin, MAS, president of Atlanta, Georgia-based distributor Accolades, Inc., learned from her parents as she joined them throughout her childhood in dedicating time and effort to various church and civic organizations. These experiences set her on a path that has led to her recognition this month at The PPAI Expo as the 2019 H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Of The Year. “My parents were great role models and even greater humanitarians,” says Griffin. “I am an only child and I often accompanied them to nursing homes, helped my mother prepare food for neighbors, collect money for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), March of Dimes, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), etc. My father was employed by the VA Hospital for 40 years and upon retirement immediately signed up to volunteer there two days a week until he passed. My mother was an educational supervisor and would often provide money and housing for undergraduate students, and then hire them as teachers upon graduation. In our church, my parents were quite active, and their primary focus of help was with the senior citizens of the church. They served as their ombudsman, helped with food and that sort of thing. I owe my sense of drive, passion and willing commitment to my parents.” Her parents’ example and the lessons they imparted imbued Griffin with a passion for volunteerism and the ability to recognize where her talents would be most valuable. At Stephens College, where she attended and now serves as a trustee, the school’s placement office needed resources and support in its mission to prepare students for employment. Drawing on her time at Xerox Corporation as Southeast regional manager of personnel operations, Griffin knew what employers were looking for in a new college hire and jumped right in. “I am passionate about this road to employment placement,” says Griffin. “At Stephens, I provided mentorships, summer internships at Accolades and raised funds to build a state-of-the-art interview room and outfit a suit closet so that our students would look professional at interviews. I conducted seminars and a ‘What I know now, that I wish I knew then’ open forum, and provided books to help students with their career decisions.” Griffin adds, “When I worked at the women’s shelter providing breakfast to mothers and children, or helped with voter registration, or collected scholarship funds for deserving students, all of these were due to need, and I remain committed to In 2016, Griffin accepted the Jackie Robinson Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner Award on behalf of Accolades from the Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball. The annual award recognizes diversity partners who provide service which reflects the character and commitment to excellence lived by legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson. “Don’t wait to be asked, but if asked, do what you can to help.” Finding A Need And Filling It Daryll H. Griffin, MAS, has left her mark on the philanthropic world, and she encourages others to do the same. by James Khattak FEATURE | Celebrating The Exceptional 32 | JANUARY 2019 |