Whether supporting older adults through her Griswold in-home care franchise, coordinating departments at the University of Rochester or spending nearly two decades helping families affected by pancreatic cancer, one theme has remained constant throughout her life: serving people during some of their most challenging moments.

That commitment recently came full circle as the Pancreatic Cancer Association of Western New York, the nonprofit Pettinaro helped co-found after losing her brother to pancreatic cancer, officially transitioned its mission to the Cancer Support Community at Gilda's Club Rochester. While the grassroots organization is closing after 17 years of service, its impact and legacy will continue helping local families facing cancer.

What began with a handful of volunteers meeting in someone's home, then in a church basement, grew into one of the region's most impactful pancreatic cancer organizations.

Over nearly two decades, the organization raised close to $1 million for pancreatic cancer research at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, helping support its journey toward National Cancer Institute designation. Volunteers organized 16 annual fundraising walks, continued the "All Fore Mike" golf tournament created by Pettinaro's late brother's colleagues at Getinge and provided patient care funding to local cancer centers, including Roswell Park.

For Pettinaro, however, the organization's greatest accomplishment wasn't measured in dollars.

"More importantly, we created hope," she said. “We gave people a place to grieve, connect, support one another, and fight together.”

That same people-first philosophy is what ultimately led Pettinaro and her husband, Frank, to invest in Griswold, an in-home care franchise with more than four decades of experience helping older adults remain safely and comfortably at home. "We really liked the whole mission and helping seniors," Pettinaro said. “We each had a mom who was living independently. They always said, 'We want to stay in our homes.' As we researched opportunities, when we came across Griswold and read about Jean Griswold, it really felt close to home.”

Today, after 11 years with Griswold, Pettinaro says the business has exceeded every expectation. "We have wonderful referred Caregivers that have created and maintained wonderful relationships with clients," she said. “We've attended funerals of clients who passed away. It really feels like you are part of a family. The home office and corporate team are fantastic. Other franchisees are also fantastic and are always willing to answer questions. The stories we share, and seeing the dedication and compassion, are wonderful. Coming into a franchise like this is a breath of fresh air after working in the corporate world.”

To Pettinaro, the connection between her work with Griswold and her volunteer efforts has always been obvious.

"It's all about taking care of people," she said. “People over 65 or 70 are more likely to get pancreatic cancer. My brother was only 45 when he was diagnosed, but I was able to connect with some people at a discussion forum and found two other ladies from Rochester, and we co-founded the organization. We volunteer; we've done support groups, and we raised $1 million. So it's really all about caring for people.”

As the organization's founding volunteers began facing new responsibilities in their own lives, they recognized it was time for another organization to carry the mission forward.

"We are all getting older, and it got to a point where our personal lives took us in different directions," Pettinaro said. “I am a Caregiver for my mom, for example. Our core team couldn't keep up with fulfilling our roles. We decided it was time to end. We felt like we had accomplished our goal.”

Looking ahead, Pettinaro plans to devote even more time to Griswold as she prepares to retire from the University of Rochester. "Now that I am retiring, I will be more involved with Griswold in the business," she said. “Not so much the day-to-day, but community events and being out there since I had already done that with the volunteer role.”

After more than a decade with the brand, she says joining Griswold remains one of the best decisions she and her husband ever made.

"I can't say enough good things about franchising with Griswold," Pettinaro said. “I love seeing my husband and how happy he is. It's very rewarding, and we are so happy we ended up with the brand.”

To find out more information on costs to buy a Griswold franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info.