Our Story

The Vision

The Griffin Project started with the vision of supporting families as they go through one of the most difficult things imaginable. As a family that loves art and sticker decals, we asked a good friend of ours to draw us a logo that we could use for stickers and shirts. We absolutely loved the results and being able to hand them out to our care team and supporters. Now we get to see the people who represent Griffin Strong and physically see our community.

After experiencing the impact our decal brought our family, we decided to design Hero’s Crests for a few of our friends in the hospital. The first design and fundraiser we ran raised almost $1500 for a family battling leukemia.

We enjoyed being able to incorporate the child and family’s vision and values into their Hero’s Crest. The family appreciated having something beyond a cancer ribbon next to their child’s name to put on shirts. We decided to start The Griffin Project to help families design a Hero’s Crest that represents their family and can be used to build support and community. In addition, we help families use their Hero’s Crest to fundraise through building an online store and printing stickers.

In January 2023, At just 13 months old Griffin Koerber was showing serious symptoms of something we were not expecting, loss of motor skills on his right side and extreme irritation even for a baby. Griffin was rushed to the hospital Emergency Room where he would go through several tests and scans. These tests revealed he had a mass in his brain roughly 1/3 the size of his brain. This started the battle of his life. He was diagnosed with CNS Neuroblastoma and started on an intense treatment plan. From January to November, Griffin had 7 rounds of chemo, 2 brain surgeries, 6 weeks of radiation and another 3 rounds of Chemo with stem cell transplant. Although his treatment schedule was intense, we enjoyed watching Griffin grow and develop. He made friends everywhere we went and was always a light. In January of 2024 new symptoms started to arise, after several scans we discovered a new diagnosis of metastatic cancer in the spine. Griffin went to heaven on October of 2024. Griffin will forever be our hero. His creativity, compassion and love for others is the inspiration for all that The Griffin Project does.

Get to Know Us

Meet the Team

This is our core team, although The Griffin Project is supported by so any more than we can list.

Founder and President

Zack

Meet Zack, the president and founder of the Griffin Project, but to Zack, his most cherished title is dad to Griffin and Makenzie. A passionate collector of unique vinyl stickers, Zack's creativity fuels the design of each hero crest. His love for stickers not only shapes the project vision but also ensures that every Hero's Crest is personally reviewed and perfected before we send it out.

Founder and COO

Ashley

Ashley plays a role in managing the daily operations of the Griffin Project and showcases her creativity as the lead designer of Hero's Crests. Her commitment to her family and her work shines through in everything she does.

Board Member

Kayla

With a background in customer service and workers’ compensation, Kayla is a true rockstar in organization, marketing, and event coordination- playing a vital role in keeping the Griffin Project moving forward. Her life was profoundly impacted by the cancer diagnoses of both her parents, a connection that fuels her deep commitment to our mission. Kayla’s thoughtful nature shines through in everything she does, while her spirit brings a contagious energy to the project. As a devoted mother of 3, she embodies empathy, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose, making her an invaluable member of the team.

Board Member

Kelly Smith

Kelly is a dedicated Child Life Assistant with a passion for serving and uplifting children in every situation. With years of experience as a teacher and in the Child Life program at a hospital in the Sacramento area, she brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to her work. Love, faith and positivity radiate as she works with children. She provides valuable insight into the hospital setting for the Griffin Project. Kelly's commitment to encouraging kids makes her an invaluable asset to the community.

Board Member

Amanda Martin

Amanda is an inspiring mama of 6 who connected with the Griffin Project while in the hospital with her son Mateo. Mateo was one of the earliest recipients of a Hero's Crest. Amanda bring valuable insight into the impact of a Hero's Crest for the child, the family and the community that supports them. She has a voice in the pediatric cancer community. Amanda is an advocate and change maker for families around the country battling a cancer diagnosis with their children.

Board Member

Orchid Cavnar

Orchid brings a compassionate and loving heart to the Griffin Project, dedicated to uplifting children and their families. As a mother of four and a leader in children's ministry, she is deeply committed to nurturing young lives. Orchid not only covers the Griffin Project and all of our heroes in prayer, but she also plays a vital role in coordinating events and providing unwavering support for everything we do. Her presence is a true blessing to our community.