Remarkable Women: Baby Buns 4 Life Network founder, Dana Griffin-Graves

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Chesterfield County mother, Dana Griffin-Graves, who turned pain into purpose, is being honored this month as one of our Remarkable Women.

Griffin-Graves is the founder of Baby Buns 4 Life Network, a nonprofit organization that supports families with babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) across Central Virginia. Her mission was born from her own son’s fight for survival.

Today, her son — Kaleb, affectionately known as “Baby Buns” — is 10 years old and thriving.

Before Kaleb was even born, he was already making headlines. Griffin-Graves shared the news of her pregnancy with her husband, Arkell Graves, in a viral video. In the clip, she places a pair of buns in the oven next to an ultrasound photo — a playful reveal that quickly spread online.

But Kaleb’s story didn’t begin easily.

(Griffin-Graves pictured with Kaleb when he graduated from the NICU at VCU health)

In October 2025, he was born premature, weighed less than a pound and spent 356 days in the NICU at Virginia Commonwealth University Health. During that long and uncertain year, Griffin-Graves experienced firsthand an emotional and financial strain many families face while their babies fight to survive.

“Baby Buns 4 Life was born out of my own experience,” Griffin-Graves said.

Her nonprofit partners with eight hospitals across the region, providing support to parents with babies in the NICU. What began as a few donated bags has grown into a large operation helping more than 5,500 families across Central Virginia, Austin, Texas and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

(Dana Griffin-Graves and her son, Kaleb, 10)

(Dana Griffin-Graves and her son, Kaleb, 10)

Each month — and especially around holidays — Griffin-Graves and her volunteers deliver “Baby Buns Blessing Bags.” The bags include practical and emotional support items for parents spending long days and nights at the hospital.

"We provide a blessing bag and it's called a baby buns blessing bag that we give them, and it has gift cards in it, gas cards," Griffin-Graves said. "We provide journals for them."

The items include Miracle of Life Dinners, inspirational books, Father’s Day forms, infant car seats and preemie T-shirts.

Much of the work is organized right inside Griffin-Graves’ home in Chesterfield.

An upstairs attic space has recently been converted into the nonprofit’s headquarters, filled with baby supplies, donations and handmade items like crocheted hats from volunteers.

(Attic space holding donations)

“I’m thankful for any donations that we receive,” she said.

All items provided through Baby Buns 4 Life are free for families, with 100% of donated funds reinvested back into the NICU community.

Her journey is also documented in her book, “13 oz of Faith: The Baby Buns Story.”

"Every time I would try to start writing it, I would just break down in tears because it was challenging. I'm talking about, you know, the challenges even leading up to having Kaleb, because I had a stillborn child, I had four miscarriages," she said.

(Griffin-Graves flipping through her book, 13 oz of Faith: The Baby Buns Story)

Despite the heartbreak, Griffin-Graves said her faith carried her through.

"I found faith I didn’t even know I had," Griffin-Graves said. "The bible says you just need faith the size of a mustard seed and I felt like I had less than that. I would not trade anything because it has helped me to help someone else."

Looking ahead, she hopes to expand the reach of Baby Buns 4 Life and support even more NICU families.

"I want to be able to help more families," she said. "I want to be able to have a presence in more hospitals, being able to partner with more hospitals. Of course, in Virginia, but outside of Virginia as well."

Aside from leading the growing nonprofit, Griffin-Graves is a devoted mother and wife. She maintains a 32-year professional career, and serves her community through organizations including the Richmond Children’s Hospital Advisory Board, The Links and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.