Fred Griffith's Recovery

It seems that everyone in Cleveland knows and loves Fred Griffith! Fred hosted The Morning Exchange, live, for 27 years on WEWS Channel 5 before moving to WKYC Channel 3 and the show Good Company  for the next twelve. He retired from television in February 2012 and started working on his memoirs.  He remained actively in support of several local charities, including Slow Food, many benefits for the Autism Society of Greater Cleveland (numerous annual chili cook offs) and the Coit Road Market. 


After a brief setback due to an accident that crushed one of his vertebrae in 2013, Fred resumed his retirement in Shaker Heights. He was content sharing his life with his wife Linda (his co-author on the James Beard award winning "Onions, Onions, Onions" and several other cookbooks), and their two precious dogs, Zin and Phineas.


Late in January 2017, while walking the dogs near his apartment building, Fred fell and fractured his pelvis. He had emergency surgery, and after weeks of physical therapy is now on his way to recovery. However, at age 88, he is not able to return to his apartment and may never be able to live independently again. Linda also has health issues, and Fred would be heartbroken without her. 

Fred and Linda lived life to the fullest, but did not anticipate the large expenses that would occur if something happened to one of them, such as a bad fall (or two). They also believed that Fred would be entitled to Veteran's Benefits arising from his U.S. Air Force service during the Korean War, but have just learned that due to a 1952 paperwork failure that erroneously failed to report him on active duty at that time, Fred cannot now qualify for the benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled, which leaves them short of what they need to pay for assisted living.  

The purpose of this campaign is to raise enough money to cover their medical and other expenses incurred as a result of these developments. The need is urgent, as assisted living is very expensive and not covered by any insurance. Expenses are already racking up, and the Griffiths have no one else to turn to. Friends have provided a new "foster" home for Zin, but Fred and Linda hope to keep Phinny with them in assisted living (and the facility has agreed, so long as Fred and Linda have the resources to take care of him). 


Fred and Linda have been our dear friends for years. Now, in their time of need, we ask those who care about them, and those who enjoyed spending parts of their mornings with Fred for so many years, or who got pleasure making recipes from their cookbooks, or who benefited from or supported charities they supported, to help them now. Fred and Linda appreciate all of your help and support.