Vanessa Griffin Paul

For the last six months, I have  been volunteering as a crisis counselor for The Trevor Project, which provides real-time support to suicidal LGBTQ youth.  This organization originally sparked my interest because I feel that it is absolutely heartbreaking that someone would rather die than be themselves.  After extensive training, I began my 1-year obligation as … Continue reading →

I am completely humbled and honored to be SPAWAR Reserve Program’s Sailor of the Year (SOY)!  This was a multiple day, tough competition where I competed with SPAWAR’s finest.  I learned so much from the other finalists and know they will go on to be incredible leaders in the US Navy Reserves.  I want to thank … Continue reading →

I am the Director of Prevention with the newly-established Central Virginia Justice Initiative (CVJI) and have started taking a more active roll in raising public awareness regarding the human trafficking issue in our region.  I will share updates as the activities progress, however I wanted to go ahead and share this graphic.  I feel like … Continue reading →

I feel like my life is in a constant state of change.  Much of that likely has to do with how quickly time passes and the constant flood of ideas and activities that take place in my life.  I love it.  There is a lot of sacrifice involved and many long days working multiple projects.  … Continue reading →

I would like to announce that we have chosen No Kid Hungry as our designated charity for Bon Appetreat. Thanks to our customers last Sunday, we will be donating 30 meals to hungry children this week.  I’m so excited about this…I’m very grateful that our new company, and our customers, have a new way to … Continue reading →

August was crazy (and yes, I have slacked on blogging yet again). Preparing for the launch of the new business has been overshadowing all of our other activities.  Bon Appetreat now has a selection of granola, trail mixes, chicken and beef jerky, and crackers.  However, I’m mostly excited about the new kid’s line of healthy … Continue reading →

It’s been over a week since I posted last.  Aside from a trip to visit my boyfriend’s family in West Virginia, we have been in the process of developing and launching a new business. We’re excited! I was running the North Stafford Farmers Market a couple weeks ago and brain storming vending ideas with my … Continue reading →

I had a lot of meetings this week.  It was a broad scale of meetings, which included TV production, real estate, and even our region’s transportation.  However, the most impactful day for me was on Tuesday, when I had two meetings that made me feel empowered in a number of different ways. The first was a meeting … Continue reading →

Stafford Junction is an organization that provides activities for youths who are considered at-risk, based on poverty levels or circumstance.  It’s a little-known, but amazing organization that I feel doesn’t receive the recognition that it deserves for its efforts. I’m excited to volunteer to help with the organization’s summer camp over the next few weeks.  … Continue reading →

After a local newspaper article was published regarding my being awarded the 2014 Woman of the Year Award, the North Stafford Rotary Club invited me to come speak to its members.  I wasn’t sure what topic I should share with the group, and I debated between the activities with which I’m involved.  The go to … Continue reading →

My boyfriend and I are lucky enough to be the owners and managers of the North Stafford Farmers Market, which just entered it’s second season of operation.  This season, we were able to hire staff thanks to a Mary Washington Hospital grant that has allowed us to have more family time on the weekends.  However, … Continue reading →

I had the opportunity in May to work as the Production Coordinator on the set of a new web mini-series called Pigeon.  It had been a few years since I had done any work in film, so I definitely had to shake off a few cobwebs to get back into the groove of things.  Luckily, the … Continue reading →

Last Saturday, my family had the opportunity to spend time with some of the most wonderful people I have ever had the chance to meet. I am a also producer with the Central Virginia Television Network (CVTV), and sometimes conduct interviews for a couple of their shows. I was invited to attend the Summer Special … Continue reading →

Stafford County Sun: Vanessa Griffin of StaffordCounty was recently awarded the 2014 Executive and Professional Woman of the Year award from the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW). Only 100 were chosen from over 500,000 members nationwide. The award was for work done in the StaffordCounty area, including managing the North Stafford Farmers Market and … Continue reading →

I was recently invited to be a member of the Advisory Committee for The Doctor Yum Project. I’m truly impressed with this organization and what they’ve achieved in just a couple years! Yesterday was my first advisory meeting, and I found it very informative. The purpose of The Doctor Yum Project is to combat childhood … Continue reading →

I recently had the unique opportunity to bowl at the White House with a few close friends of mine. We went prepared with pizza and treats to potentially the only bowling alley in the country with a dress code. The venue itself is comprised of two lanes and a pristine arrangement of 60′s-style furniture. Photos … Continue reading →

Last weekend, I set out on an adventure to Bath County to camp and cave with a local grotto known as the Richmond Area Speleological Society (RASS). I arrived late in the evening, but was able to set up camp before the rain showers began. In the morning, a group of five (including myself) set … Continue reading →

I have always wanted to fly an airplane. About six years ago, I actually went to ground school in California, but realized soon after that the actual flight training was outside the budget of a Warner Bros. production assistant. I never took my exams and reset my focus on other, more realistic, endeavors. The curiosity … Continue reading →

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attempt my first traditional climb (known as a trad climb) as a follower, which is the individual who climbs up after the leader and removes the protective gear that was placed. I journeyed to Seneca Rocks, WV with two other members of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), … Continue reading →

When I was a kid, I was always on the lookout for places that seemed to be desperately in need of exploring. Although I had always thought the idea of exploring caves sounded intriguing, it had never occurred to me that there were regular people actually did it as a hobby. My curiosity was raised … Continue reading →

A recent work trip to Oahu, Hawai’i gave me the opportunity to hike to one of the most prominent island summits in the world. I would like to share my experience, in hopes that it will help anyone else willing to make the journey. A $160 plane ticket on Hawaiian Airlines gave me passage to … Continue reading →

Last Friday, a bunch of Rotarians got together to volunteer at the Girl Scout Urban Campout fundraiser. The patriotic themed event was just getting started at the time of my arrival. I was assigned to be a flagger during the live auction, which wasn’t until the end of the program. So this gave me an … Continue reading →

This month’s trip to Casa de la Esperanza left us very dusty and sore. Our goal at the Tijuana orphanage was to restore the children’s library to a condition where it was safe and accessible. The hope is that with an organized library, the children would be allowed to enjoy the books and promote their … Continue reading →