In January 2018, when James LeBlanc, KRA Program Manager, recruited a local drivers’ education business as a Work Experience Program supporter, he was more than pleased that YouthWorks! was gaining not just a valuable employer-partner, but an invaluable community-involvement partner as well!
Benjamin and Allan Griffin founded B&A Brothers Driving Academy, LLC in honor and memory of their brother Bernard Griffin. Allan comments, “The unbreakable bond between Bernard, Benjamin, and myself guided the establishment of B&A to foster service in the communities where it was most needed, working toward the common good of individuals, especially our youth.”
Both brothers attended Morgan State University. Allan (on the right), a licensed and certified driving instructor, has more than 18 years’ teaching experience in the Glen Burnie/Pasadena, Maryland area, while Benjamin, now retired, worked for the American Red Cross for more than 25 years.
In addition to creating the B&A Brothers Book Scholarship Fund, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides “financial support to deserving scholars in their pursuit of higher education”, B&A is an active contributor and participant in numerous community-service projects.
Project Giveback to the Glen Burnie Community, a service project that B&A created, supports numerous activities, events, and partnerships including an AM Cutz Barbers Back-to-School Backpacks Program, Hands of Hope Spring Health Expo, Sigma Gamma Rho Youth Symposium, Zeta Phi Beta SAT PREP Classes, Toys-for-Tots and Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway Programs, and more.
Benjamin stated, “We really don’t separate our dedication to the business from our commitment to the community. B&A’s corporate mission is essentially an expansion of our personal mission of service outside of the nonprofit sector. We understand the necessity for individuals to be safe and prepared in the community as well as on the road, and are committed to this objective for each and every individual with whom we interact.”
The brothers’ favorite quote is one attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which applies equally to one’s professional endeavors as much as one’s interpersonal relationships, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace.”