Grateful for Your Support

Each year, the Kiwanis Club of Clovis provides the cash bar for our annual Dinner & Dance and then donates the proceeds to us in support of our programs and services, such as Champ Camp. On Thursday, November 14th, Katrina Arthur was up bright and early to attend the morning Kiwanis meeting and was honored to be presented with a check for $2,000. This donation will sponsor two children to attend our 40th Champ Camp in June 2025.
November 13-15, Daniel Chacon attended the bi-annual conference for the International Association of Burn Camps (IABC) hosted by the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation at their Twin Lakes Camp. At the conference, Daniel was honored to accept two awards. The first was in honor of his work with the IABC Board of Directors. The second, the Camp Spirit Award which was awarded posthumously to James Bosch for his many years of work within the burn community and his contribution towards burn camp programming. This award was accepted on behalf of James’ family. Daniel enjoyed his time networking with and learning from other camp professionals from all across North America.
During the month of November, we had wonderful community partners hosting toy drives in the Central Valley, greater Los Angeles area, and San Jose/San Francisco Bay area to benefit AARBF’s holiday parties.
In the Central Valley, we partnered with the Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union, Sierra High CSF, Coalinga Fire Department, and the Leon S Peters Burn Unit at CRMC. For the Los Angeles party, we were excited to partner for the first time with F&A Federal Credit Union. In the Bay area, we partnered once again with the Bank of Montreal (BMO Bank) at fourteen of their locations from Gilroy to Redwood City. The toy drive within BMO Bank will continue until the end of December and the toys collected will be provided to the burn units to use for their young patients all year round.
We greatly appreciate our toy drive partners and all they do to make the holidays brighter for burn survivors and their families.
During November, Daniel Chacon visited with the representatives of the Northern California Fire Prevention Officers Association and was presented with a check for $2,500 which was proceeds from their annual Golf Tournament. Daniel also met up with our friends at Sunnyvale Public Safety Officer’s Association where he received a check for $7,625 from their annual Pancake Breakfast. These partnerships ensure we can continue providing much needed prevention programming throughout California as well as emotional support services to our burn survivors.
We have entered the holiday season and for some it can be a source of stress. Organizing the gatherings and meals can become a storm of misunderstandings and disagreements, especially for some of our burn survivors and their families. But how to improve the situation?
By acknowledging your needs and allowing yourself to navigate the holiday season in a way that feels right to you and your loved ones, the holiday season can become a time of healing and connection, rather than just a source of stress.Our Care Managers are here to help. If you need group or peer support, please reach out to Martha Banks at [email protected] (Southern CA) or Michael Knopf at [email protected] (Northern CA).
“It would have been impossible for me to be where I am right now, if I had not received the emotional, physical, and financial support from the Burn Foundation.” -Rosa Diaz
In December 2007, just as the holidays began, Rosa suffered a severe burn injury. What should have been a season of joy turned into one of pain and uncertainty. Yet, her journey from isolation to community reminds us of the difference we can make, especially during the holidays when hope and healing are needed most. Click here to continue Rosa’s story.
October is Fire Prevention Month and is a very busy time for the foundation. Most activities occur during or near Fire Prevention Week, October 6th – 12th. This year’s theme was “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” The campaign was focused on the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home. AARBF utilized our social media platforms to raise awareness of fire and burn prevention tips and programs. Read through this month’s stories to learn about the ways we engaged with our communities this past month.
In honor of Fire Prevention Week and AAC Awareness Month 2024, Pyramid Educational Consultants and the AARBF, have teamed up again to create a Smoke Alarm Safety infographic to help learners who benefit from using visual directions and resources.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) theme for 2024 was “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!™.” There are many types of smoke alarms available to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and communication challenges. Our colorful infographic is designed to help families and educators be better prepared for fire emergencies by choosing the best smoke alarm for their learners and practicing the skills to respond to smoke alarms. An additional teaching guide is also available to help with teaching these important skills.
In and around Fire Prevention Week, AARBF staff and volunteers attended several Firefighter Pancake Breakfasts and Open Houses, many of which donated their proceeds to the foundation.
We kicked off the month with the Mountain View Firefighters pancake breakfast on October 5th. Attendees were able to interact with the firefighters as they toured the station and learn about the various equipment in use.
The Albany Fire Department pancake breakfast and open house reached approximately 800-1000 people in their community on October 12th. Attendees were able to see the different equipment used within the fire station.
Also on October 12th was the Sunnyvale DPS Firefighters pancake breakfast. Attendees got to meet Sparky as well as tour the fire station’s training tower.
The next day, October 13th, we were at the Hanford Fire Department open house with Stop Drop and Roll demonstrations. Approximately, 600 attendees also learned kitchen safety lessons to Stay Smart Stay Safe, Stay 3 feet away.
The 24th annual Menlo Park Fire pancake breakfast, hosted by Junior League Palo Alto MP in partnership with Menlo Park Fire took place on October 19th. The morning was filled with fun family activities, seeing the fire equipment, and even a silent auction.
The annual SoCal Golf Tournament was held on October 8th. This year’s event raised a record of $35,000 for AARBF and Champ Camp. We are very grateful to John Patterson, Red Pointe Roofing, and everyone who attended and supported the tournament.
The foundation had a great time visiting our firefighter partners and acknowledging their financial support of AARBF through a series of regional burn relays.
On October 10th, Daniel Chacon and Erika Mendoza teamed up with Brian Leathers and Megan Leathers at the Central Coast Relay. The relay went to thirteen different elementary schools and one head start along with our eleven participating fire departments to teach quick burn prevention tips children. We reached around 4500 students throughout the day as well as children attending the San Luis Obispo Farmer’s Market which was our final stop. Five Cities Fire Department, Morro Bay Fire Department, San Luis Obispo Fire Department, Templeton Fire Department, Atascadero Fire Department, Santa Margarita Fire Department, Paso Robles Fire Department, San Miguel Fire Department, CAL Fire San Luis Obispo, Cambria Fire Department, and San Luis Obispo Fire Chiefs Association.
On October 25th, Daniel Chacon and Martha Banks visited Downey Fire, Manhattan Beach Fire, Arcadia Fire, Monrovia Fire, and Torrance Fire for the SoCal Burn Relay. While these agencies have continued to support AARBF, this was the first time we have hosted the SoCal Burn Relay since before the pandemic.
On October 28th – 30th, Daniel Chacon was in the bay area with Erika Mendoza for the Peninsula Relay, East Bay Relay, and North Bay Relay. We visited twenty-three fire agencies over the three-day period. Sunnyvale Fire Department, Mountain View Fire Department, Moffet Field/NASA Ames Fire Department, Palo Alto Fire Department, Menlo Park Fire Department, Central County Fire Department, South San Francisco Fire Department, Colma Fire Protection District, Alameda Fire Department, Albany Fire Department, Sonoma County Fire Protection District, Graton Fire Department, Sebastopol Fire Department, Santa Rosa Fire Department, Rohnert Park Fire Department, Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District, Petaluma Fire Department, Novato Fire Protection District, San Rafael Fire Department, Ross Valley Fire Department, Kentfield Fire Protection District, Central Marin Fire Department, and Southern Marin Fire Protection District.
On October 12th, Badfish Beer hosted a Beerfest to raise funds for AARBF and Champ Camp. By the end of the evening, they raised enough money to send twelve kids to the 40th Champ Camp in 2025. Thank you to Edward Bird of Badfish for your support.
The SoCal Burn Ride revved up its engines for a good cause on Oct. 26. Motorcyclists gathered at the Lakeside Pavilion of Conejo Creek North Park in Thousand Oaks for a scenic two-hour ride organized to raise funds for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation.
Opening ceremonies began at 9 a.m., with a Presentation of Colors by the 205th Battalion, California Cadet Corps, Pacoima Middle School, and the singing of the National Anthem by a vocalist with the Seal Beach Symphony. Speakers included Daniel Chacon, executive director of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, and burn survivor and volunteer Paul Harris.
Then it was kickstands up at 10 a.m. Riders covered 60 miles in all, traveling past Point Mugu State Park, along the Pacific Coast Highway and through the Santa Monica Mountains. The ride began and ended at Conejo Creek Park, with an afterparty at 12 p.m. that featured a variety of vendors, live music, food by Taco Loco and “Ride N Repeat” photos courtesy of photographer Jeff Thomas of Turn N Burn Magazine. The event also featured raffles for fantastic prizes and a motorcycle simulator presented by Apex Studio 66 out of Santa Clarita.
The SoCal Burn Ride was founded in 2014 by burn survivor Trevor Holtan and U.S. Marine Corps Major David Kuntz as a way to support burn survivors in California through the work of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. Proceeds from the Oct. 26 ride will go toward Champ Camp.
(story courtesy of Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer of vcreporter)
From November 1st through November 22nd our Central Valley Partners will be collecting toys for the Central Valley Holiday Toy Drive. We are excited to partner with the Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union, Sierra High CSF, Coalinga Fire Department, the Leon S Peters Burn Unit at CRMC, and the Fresno City College Fire Academy Class 62.
How can you support this effort? You can drop off new unwrapped toys at four locations across the Valley. All donations will be given to Central Valley burn survivors and their families at the AARBF-CRMC Holiday Party.
Drop off locations: Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union, 5300 N. Fresno Street, Fresno; FCC Fire Academy 3300 E North Ave, Fresno; Sierra High School CSF, 33326 Lodge Road, Tollhouse; Coalinga Fire Department, 300 W Elm Ave, Coalinga.
For more information about efforts in the Central Valley, please contact Katrina Arthur [email protected].Not in the Central Area but wish to support AARBF this holiday season, please reach out to Michael Knopf [email protected] for Northern California and Martha Banks [email protected] for Southern California.
The messages used throughout the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s educational programs, curricula, and handouts equip fire and life safety educators with accurate and consistent language for communicating safety information as part of the Firefighters in Safety Education (FISE) program.
AARBF is committed to periodically reviewing our fire and burn safety education messages to ensure the highest level of safety education in our programming. We are currently reaching out to our FISE Partner Agencies to request feedback on the current FISE script and key points. As essential presenters, their insights are invaluable in identifying any missing or outdated information.If you are a representative of a FISE Agency, you are invited to share your thoughts with the AARBF team: https://forms.gle/ZN7VimcxiVpyCR2V9.
The Paso Robles Firefighters Association hosted their annual 9/11 stair climb event this year on Saturday, September 14th. This year’s event was opened up to the local community and they had close to 60 people in attendance who climbed the equivalent of 110 stories at the Paso Robles Event Center. The 9/11 stair climb pays tribute to those heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice on that fateful day. This year, Paso Robles Firefighters found it truly special to engage with their local community members who walked side by side sharing this experience.
“This is our second annual 9/11 stair climb here in Paso Robles, put on by the Paso Robles Fire Association and assisted by the San Miguel Fire Association,” said Dustin Virgil, a firefighter paramedic for the City of Paso Robles Fire Department and the event organizer. “This year we are excited as we’ve opened it up to the public. Here we are 23 years later, still honoring them.”
The 9/11 stair climb event was also an opportunity for the Paso Robles Firefighters Association to raise funds for AARBF and Champ Camp. Their event will sponsor a child to attend our 40th Champ Camp being held in June of 2025.
The 14th Annual Dinner & Dance was a huge success – raising $51,000 for AARBF and Champ Camp in a single night. Our Central Valley Community gathered at the newly renovated Clovis Rodeo Grounds for an evening filled with good food, Valley Famous Cressman’s Cookies, a Silent Auction, and an exciting Live Auction. Volunteers from Clovis North Baseball, Girls Basketball, Fresno Fire Explorers, and the Fresno City College Fire Academy, Class 62 were all essential in helping set up and serve during the event. AARBF would like to thank all of our attendees and our Gold Sponsor: RMC Constructors; the Silver Sponsors: Fresno Fire Local 202, Central Valley Trailer Repair, and PolyNovo as well as our wine and beer sponsors Corner 103 and Summer Fox Brewing.
We hope to see you next year. Mark your Calendars now for November 22, 2025.
Check out all of the great photobooth photos in our Waldo photo album: https://waldo.photos/galleries/o/album/213ViE9E6wBmdGPZVGuFUNu
If you attended the Dinner & Dance, please upload your photos from this event.
On Friday, September 27, South San Francisco Firefighter’s Charitable Foundation hosted their 9th Annual Bocce Ball Tournament at the Orange Memorial Park Bocce Ball Courts. We had a great time. AARBF’s Daniel Chacon and volunteer Clark “Grizzy” Stern had a great time visiting with the teams and sharing information about the foundation! Proceeds from this event will benefit AARBF’s programs and services.
From September 28th to October 4th, AARBF had the amazing opportunity to send a teen Champ Camp camper and a counselor to attend the IAFF Burn Camp in Edgewater, MD.
This annual week-long camp, hosted by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), brings together burn survivor teens from all over the US and Canada. This year, our very own Alana and Blossom joined 40 other burn survivors and counselors for a week filled with confidence building and community bonding. They also had the chance to visit different historic sites in Washington D.C. and Annapolis.
Blossom, Alana and Alana’s mom shared their thoughts on this experience: “Being able to go to this camp and connect with people from all of the US and Canada to build new friendships and memories was truly an experience I won’t ever forget.” “We were truly honored and privileged to attend” “I am very grateful”.
This year, we are excited to announce our partnership with the SoCal Burn Ride. Join us, along with Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys for the ninth annual event which is a Texas Hold ‘Em style Poker Run happening on Saturday, October 26th, starting and ending in Thousand Oaks.
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 2024
LOCATION: Lakeside Pavillion, Conejo Creek North Park, 1379 E Janss Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
TIMES: 9AM Registration/ Opening Ceremonies
KSU: 10AM
Afterparty: 12PMGet your Rider, Passenger and After Party tickets at: www.socalburnride.com
Time is running out to get tickets for the 14th Annual Dinner & Dance in Clovis. Visit our event page to purchase your tickets at: https://one.bidpal.net/aarbfdinnerdance2024
If you are a Central Valley Volunteer or Student Group looking to support AARBF, volunteer opportunities are available for event set up, day of, and breakdown. If you are interested in supporting in this capacity, please email Katrina at [email protected].
On September 8th, I shared this video message through the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation social media accounts. For me, September is a time of remembrance of my burn injury and the journey I have taken these past 24 years. It is also a time when I remember the foundation’s namesake, Alisa Ann, as another birthday passes without her. While I’m saddened by the fact that Alisa did not survive her burn injury, I am grateful for the foundation that emerged from the tragedy. My road to recovery was filled with support and love from this foundation. I am honored to be an AARBF volunteer and member of the Board of Directors. Today, I am asking you to make a donation in honor of Alisa Ann and the foundation that has helped countless survivors and their families over the past 53 years. It can be whatever amount is significant for you. Maybe it’s $10 for your 10th burniversary or $64 for how old Alisa would have been.
Thank you for watching my video and making a difference in the lives of burn survivors!
On August 15th, we joined our friends with the UCI Medical Center for their Summer Twilight Picnic. We appreciate their Burn Program Coordinator (and AARBF council member), Ché R. Ochtli for including us. AARBF’s Martha Banks, joined 35 families for a fun day filled with laugh, games, gifts and super heroes.
On August 21st, AARBF’s Martha Banks was honored to have the opportunity to share about our programs and services to 15 members of the Kiwanis Club at Hermosa Beach. We love being able to share how we impact the lives of burn survivors.
The Getaway Family Camp 2024 was absolutely fantastic. We had a blast making core memories with everyone. AARBF hosted 35 families and 15 staff/volunteers at Camp Oakhurst this past Labor Day weekend, bringing the total to 164 amazing people. We are so thankful to all the families and volunteers who chose to spend their holiday weekend with us.
There were so many exciting outdoor activities like archery, swimming, giant swing, rock climbing, high ropes, support groups, kids/teens club, open mic, bingo, and dancing with families from all over California and Nevada.
Our Community Partners, Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation made it possible for Nevada families to join us for this event.
We are so appreciative for our incredible group of volunteers that made this weekend run so smoothly and fun. Thank you; Apollo, D, Buddy, Chop Suey, Moose, Kappa, Viper, Lenny, Pinecone, Figgy, Ricky Rescue, Hydra, Shred, Mee Mee, and Kika. Your hard work and dedication truly made it a weekend to remember.
This year, we are excited to announce our partnership with the SoCal Burn Ride. Join us, along with Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys for the ninth annual event which is a Texas Hold ‘Em style Poker Run happening on Saturday, October 26th, starting and ending in Thousand Oaks.
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 2024
LOCATION: Lakeside Pavillion, Conejo Creek North Park, 1379 E Janss Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
TIMES: 9AM Registration/ Opening Ceremonies
KSU: 10AM
Afterparty: 12PMGet your Rider, Passenger and After Party tickets at: www.socalburnride.com
Join us for the 42nd annual SoCal Golf Tournament. This year’s event will be held on Tuesday, October 8 to the Black Gold Country Club in Yorba Linda.
Click here to register or make a donation in support of this event.
The Alameda County Firefighters are hosting their annual golf tournament at the Callippe Reserve Golf Course in Pleasanton, CA on Monday October 28th.
Click here to register.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Listen up! Listen up!
Back by popular demand we will be holding another “ALL CHAMP CAMP COUNSELOR REUNION”.
The event will start at 2pm and end around 8pm.
Date: Saturday August 24, 2024
Time: 2pm-8pm
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
Cost: $20 per person, spouses and kids are invited.
Additional information: Plan on there being group skits, songs, and several other surprises throughout the event. Please wear an old Champ Camp shirt. There are several hotels in the area if you want to stay in town. We are in need of several volunteers for this event. If you would like to help, let us know. If you have contact with any past counselors, please feel free to pass this information to us.
RSVP BY August 20th along with your current contact phone and email info.Contact Beanie 650-438-9173, [email protected]
Friday, September 13: The NorCal Fire Prevention Officers Association’s 14th Annual Golf Tournament & Banquet will be held at the Paradise Valley Golf Course in Fairfield, CA.
Tuesday, October 8: The SoCal Golf Tournament returns to the Black Gold Country Club in Yorba Linda, CA.
Watch our social media for registration announcements.
In June, we welcomed 112 campers and CITs to our 39th Champ Camp, held at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort in Sanger, CA. Throughout the week, campers enjoyed numerous activities, including the fan-favorite visit from Reptile Ron, scavenger hunts, horseback riding, paintball, ropes course, swimming and waterpark activities, and campfires.
Our Senior campers got to attend a special Outcamp which is an overnight experience. Daytime activities included spending time on Shaver Lake where they had an amazing time, riding jet skis, learning how to wakeboard, riding inner tubes, catching some air, and cruising on a boat. For some of our campers, it was their first time trying these activities, and every single one of them had a huge smile on their face! This amazing time was made possible by Camp Edison, Clovis Fire, Fresno Fire, Wind & Fire, Sierra Marina, and Rally Rentals. Their volunteers helped to create unforgettable memories for our Senior group.
The media joined us at Champ Camp on Wednesday, June 12 and shared an interview of the special bond between one of our counselors, Pete, and camper, Julian. It is stories like this that make camp a special experience for our campers and volunteers.
One of the favorite food events at Champ Camp is the annual Chili Cook-Off. This year, we had 14 teams competing. The campers had a great time tasting and voting for their favorites. The 2024 Best Chili went to Fresno Fire Department Local 202. The Best Decorated Booth was awarded to Kings County Firefighters, Local 3747. Both winners received a perpetual plaque to have on display at their station until next year’s event.
Our 2024 teams included: CAL FIRE/Fresno County Fire, Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union, Fresno Fire Department, The Massage Clinic, Kings County Firefighters Local 3747, Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation, Visalia Fire Department, The Old Timers, Burn Center, Selma Fire Department, Clovis Fire Department, CPOA: Clovis Police Officers Association, City of Selma Fire Department, and Kingsburg Fire Department.
VIPs from across the Central Valley were treated to a special “Behind the Scenes” look a the magic of Champ Camp. City Officials from Sanger, Clovis, and Fresno along with the members of the Central Valley Corvette Club, the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation, and Job’s Daughters got to meet campers, volunteers, and staff that all make the magic happen. Alongside members of the Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, and Santa Maria Fire Departments joined in the Chili tasting getting not only a fun-filled afternoon but the chance to see all their hard fundraising work in action. Thank you to all our generous Community Partners, Donors and Supports, it was our pleasure to share this day with you.
Champ Camp would not be possible without our many fabulous volunteers. Those volunteers include our bus chaperones and agencies that assist us to and from camp.
In Southern California, we would like to extend our gratitude to Guava, Elizabeth, Ulbens, Alberto, Anthony, and Adrian. In addition to our chaperones, we appreciate Children’s Burn Foundation for not only letting us use their parking lot for the bus pick up/drop off, but for also providing breakfast and snacks. We also had lunch stops to and from camp. Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation provided lunch on the way to camp and Kern County Firefighters Burn Survivor Trust provided lunch on the way home from camp.
From Northern California, we say thank you to our friends at Berkeley Fire, Hughson Fire, and Denair Fire for hosting our travel activities. Haze and Captain Barboza from Berkeley Fire ensured we had a great pick up and drop off location in the Bay Area and hung out with us until everyone was picked up and ready to go. Hughson Fire and Denair Fire hosted our lunch stops to and from camp and with their generosity and hospitality we were able to have a welcoming and safe space for families to meet and enjoy a meal before being sent off with goodie bags filled with some awesome road snacks. We thank our wonderful bus chaperones for volunteering their time and ensuring the rides to and from camp ran smoothly and safely. Thank you: Giddy, Lumpy, Cannonball, Shadow, Foghorn, Tony with Hughson Fire, Aaron with Denair Fire, and Haze with Berkeley Fire.
While they didn’t have to travel as far as the Northern or Southern buses, the Central bus chaperones are still very much needed and appreciated. Not only do they gather up the children from the Central Valley, they also pick up campers arriving by air. Thank you for spending your time ensuring that our campers arrived safely. Our wonderful Central California volunteers included “D”, Redvine, Flamingo and Hurricane.
We are incredibly thankful for the Fresno City College, Fire Academy Class 61 cadets who raised $17,000 for AARBF and Champ Camp. Their donation is the equivalent of sending 17 kids to camp!
On June 7, AARBF’s Daniel Chacon attended the graduation ceremony for Class 61. We are so excited to see these cadets move on to fire agencies throughout the Central Valley.
During the month of June, Cheer LA raised funds for AARBF and our Survivor Services programs. AARBF’s Martha Banks and Daniel Chacon met up with the Cheer LA team on Saturday, June 9, at the LA Pride Parade.
Our friends with the Angel Flight West team fly burn survivors from areas outside of the bus pick up/drop off locations for several of our camp and recreational programs. We are extremely grateful for their support in ensuring our campers could make it to all the different events we have hosted to date, especially Champ Camp. Angel Flight West and the coordination team ensured that over 30 of our campers safely flew in and out of Fresno to attend Champ Camp 2024. Thanks to their team and the amazing volunteer pilots, our campers were able to experience a life-changing year surrounded by other burn survivors and truly awesome people. We appreciate all of your hard work and for keeping our campers’ safety as the number one priority.
The annual Champy-On fundraiser concluded its 8-week run on June 7, raising $35,558 with 258 donations! While we didn’t reach our goal, the impact is still strongly felt and will continue forward. Thanks to our participating individuals and teams, the programs and services of AARBF have been introduced to a much larger audience we had before. We cannot thank you enough for sharing AARBF with your family and friends. We appreciate your support and dedication to AARBF.
On the last weekend of April, AARBF was so honored to be invited to the City of Monrovia’s 2024 Public Safety/Sensory Friendly event for Autism Acceptance, celebrating families and providing a nurturing, safe, and fascinating way to relate to first responders and community service partners. Monrovia Police and Monrovia Fire & Rescue made a great day for everyone. We were there with our N.I.C.K. program of picture-reinforced fire and burn safety messages for those who don’t always do well with written and verbal learning. This program, developed with the experts at Pyramid Educational Consultants, makes sure everyone can learn and affirm important safety messages like Stop, Drop and Roll, Cool a Burn for 5 minutes, and if there is smoke in the room Get Low and Go. We also got to meet Trixie, the three-legged therapy dog, who knows how to and demonstrated Stop, Drop and Roll!
May 4 was Wildfire Preparedness Day, but for those of us in California, we know that Wildfire Preparedness is a 365-day-a-year opportunity. One of the most important pieces of a preparedness plan is to have your “Go Bag” or emergency kit ready to grab. In your go bag, you want to focus on the “Four Ps”– that is items for People & Pets; Papers (important documents, passports, etc); Phone (and phone numbers); and Prescriptions (medicines, vitamins, eyeglasses/contact lenses, and any medications for your animals, as well). In addition to the Four Ps, you want a paper map with at least two evacuation routes marked (in case there is no cellular or WiFi service), 3-day supply of non-perishable food and water for each person and animal, extra car keys, credit cards and cash, first aid kit and sanitation supplies, change of clothes including closed toe shoes. If all this is pre-packed in an easily grabbable duffel or backpack, you will be able to face a wildfire (or any evacuation emergency) with much more confidence and peace of mind. Click here if you’d like to see more resources for wildfire preparedness.
New Counselor Training (NCT) 2024, was packed with silly, high-energy twenty-three amazing new counselors coming into our Champ Camp family this year.
We participated in training through team building exercises, handbook overview, counselor/ camp expectations, camp/facility tours, campfire with skits, and learning songs.
We are happy to introduce you to our new counselors for 2024:
Taro, Baymax, R2, Shiba, Bruno, Mater, Trebel, Flaka, Mac n Cheese, Sunkist, Chilla, Tyde, Ultra Violet, Sunny, Mijo, Ginger, Wasabi, Berrie, Jiu Jeddie, Cinnamon, Sinker, Squirrel and Spaghetti.
If you plan to be enrolled in the 2024/25 academic year at a Trade School, Junior College, or University, it is not too late to apply for a financial scholarship through AARBF’s “Bridge to Life” Scholarship offered by the Woody and Louise Reed family to support burn survivors and their family members pursuing higher education.
Applications are closing on June 30, 2024: https://forms.gle/HCaBGdzJeqz3qvxu8
And if you are pursuing a master’s degree or PhD, you can use the same application to apply for the “Aiming Higher” scholarship for burn survivors, sponsored by Care Plans for Life, LLC.
And if the application get sticky for you, your Care Managers, Martha and Michael, are always ready to help.
Because of the traumatic nature of a burn injury, it is common for burn survivors to experience flashbacks and nightmares. As they go through the physical and emotional impact of the injury, burn survivors may experience feelings of depression, anxiety, body image, social isolation, withdrawal from relationships, low self-esteem, and chronic pain, just to mention some. Also, some burn survivors may deal with grief and loss and survivor’s guilt due to the loss of a loved one during the accident.
There are different techniques, coping skills practices and self-care strategies burn survivors can practice to help manage and improve some of the mental health symptoms during recovery, such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness, stress management, and more. AARBF can support you through your recovery journey. Let us know how we can help. At AARBF, we have the following services available: Peer Support, virtual and in-person support groups, therapy grants, retreats, and more. Please contact one of our Care Managers today at [email protected] or [email protected].
Memorial Day is often acknowledged as the unofficial start of the summer season, and that means many of us are planning summer parties and maybe dusting off the grill. Barbecue safety is always important, and especially if there are extra people gathering around the official burger-flipper! You want to be sure your grill, either charcoal or propane, is well away from the walls of your home, fences, overhanging branches, deck railings, and anything flammable. Kids and pets want a safety zone of at least three feet from the grill area while you’re cooking—and of course you want to always be there (never leaving the grill unattended). Clean off old grease and fat buildup before you start, and once the grill is lit, never add charcoal fluid or any flammable liquids to an already lit fire. A safe party is the only way to enjoy the summer season.
AARBF’s Champ Camp is the largest camp for burn-injured children. It is a large undertaking to bring upwards of 150 children to Wonder Valley each June and we could not accomplish this without the support of our burn community. Whether it’s by volunteering, donating, or participating in one of our activities, the impact is felt by the children who get a week to come together creating memories and friendships that can last a lifetime.
It is not too late to show your support of this awesome camp. Below are opportunities still available.
Amazon Wish List
Each year, our program staff creates a wish list of items needed for arts and crafts, as well as water games and activities. To purchase an item from our Amazon wish list, please click here.
Chili Cook-Off
On Wednesday, June 12, we will host the annual Champ Camp Chili Cook-Off. If you think you have the best chili around, our campers will be the judge. Chili teams will compete for the best chili and best booth. Click here to sign up to participate in our Chili Cook-Off.
Champy-On Fundraiser
Our Champy-On online fundraiser is in full swing. The goal for this year is $39,000 in honor of Champ Camp’s 39th year. Click here to donate or to create or join a fundraising team.
Champ Camp Store
For a limited time, you can purchase AARBF and Champ Camp branded merchandise through our online store. You do not have to attend camp to be able to purchase. Click here to visit the online store before May 17th.
For more information about any of the Champ Camp opportunities available, please contact Erika “Kika” Mendoza at [email protected].
Sunday, April 7th, marked the 10th Anniversary of the Fresno Urban Run. This year, with nearly 1000 runners hitting the streets of Downtown Fresno, the run raised over $14,000 for AARBF and Champ Camp. Our volunteer, Scott “Poindexter” Mellon, and the Fresno City Fire Academy Class of 61 were joined by teams from CRMC, AARBF, Fresno City Fire, Selma Fire, Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union, and burn survivor “Chop Suey” as part of the 3.1-mile run/stair climb ending at the historic Grand Hotel.
We are very thankful to the teams and participants of the run and fundraising efforts leading up to race day. Their contribution will help send fourteen children to camp.
At the national American Burn Association conference in Chicago April 8th-12th, there was so much learning and connection and collaboration going on with our hospital partners and medical community, fire prevention experts and community risk reduction teams, and several other burn foundations from across the country. It was a deeply inspiring and busy several days. One of the ways AARBF participated this year was to enter a “Prevention Message” poster to get the word out in new ways about being fire-safe. The theme of the poster competition was “Burn Prevention Where You Live, Work, and Play – Preventing Burns in the Homes” Our entry highlights distracted cooking and cell phone usage as a possible cooking hazard and won third place in the national competition.
AARBF hosted the Women’s Empowerment Weekend Retreat from April 18th-21th. We were thrilled to welcome fourteen remarkable and powerful burn survivor women, along with six facilitators and one staff member.
The retreat was packed with eleven different workshops on topics such as relationships, intimacy, mirror work, journaling, manifestation, vocational rehab, empowered accomplishments, and much more. As a group, we were able to explore nature and ground ourselves by taking group walks around Camp Calvin Crest. The retreat provided a safe space for everyone, and the group became one and supported each other throughout the weekend.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our amazing facilitators who demonstrated their deep commitment to WEW 2024: Cindy, Ruth, Wendy, Jill, Brooke, and our facilitators in training (FITs), Quincy and Skittles.
On Sunday, April 21st, the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort (and home of Champ Camp) hosted a family fun day. This was a great opportunity to experience all of the great activities available such as, zip line, rock wall, ropes course, waterslides, canoeing, trampolines, go-carts, pony rides, archery, hayrides, swimming, and sport courts. They also had food trucks in partnership with Fresno Street Eats. Proceeds from the event, totaling $4,000 directly benefit Champ Camp. Thank you to Wonder Valley and everyone who attended the Family Fun Day.
On April 21st – 27th, we celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Week (VAW) by honoring our volunteers. While we appreciate our volunteers every week of the year, VAW is an opportunity to highlight the contributions of seven individuals who impacted the foundation for prevention, survivor services, fundraising, and more, within the past year.
Grace-Sonia Melanio is our Burn Prevention Volunteer of the Year in recognition of her work with AARBF through AARP’s HomeFit program.
Grace-Sonia is a community health advocate and public affairs professional based in Silicon Valley. She currently serves as the director of strategy and special projects for the Office of Kat Taylor, enhancing the organization’s impact related to legislative endeavors, philanthropic initiatives, and community programs. Previously, she worked at AARP California, and through their professional development program, became a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) accredited by the National Association of Home Builders. Still inspired by AARP’s mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age, she enjoys volunteering with the organization’s Community Education Team in her spare time.
It was during her time with AARP, Grace-Sonia and AARBF’s Andrew Mersmann teamed up in a series of virtual workshops designed to teach how older individuals can age safely in place using tips from both AARP and AARBF’s SPARC program (Senior Prevention and Risk Conversations). Although Grace-Sonia has moved on from AARP, she still teams with Andrew and AARBF for these virtual workshops.
Grace-Sonia is also honored to serve as a Board Secretary for Asian Women Empowered, a volunteer-run group for Silicon Valley Asian American women, focused on civic engagement, leadership development, and mutual support. Past volunteer community service endeavors include serving on the KQED Community Advisory Board, RotaCare Bay Area, and co-founding South Bay First Thursdays, an Asian American young professionals discussion group.
Hanford Fire Department Firefighter, Scott “Poindexter” Mellon is our Fundraising Volunteer of the Year in recognition of his innovative fundraising on behalf of AARBF.
Scott has been a steadfast supporter of AARBF and Champ Camp. If you want to know how long he has been volunteering at camp, you just need to add up his Champy tattoos. In addition to volunteering, Scott also raises funds through the annual Fresno Urban Run. The Fresno Urban Run is an annual event which celebrated its 10th year in 2024. There would not a relationship between the Fresno Urban Run and AARBF without Scott Mellon.
At this year’s race on April 7th, Scott was recognized for being one of three people who have run the race each year since its inception. After a couple of years of racing on his own, Scott encouraged others in his department to participate. Scott then expanded his recruitment to include students from two local fire academies and created a fundraising challenge which directly benefits AARBF. But that wasn’t enough for Scott. He also reached out to the race coordinators who now donate a portion of the race proceeds to AARBF and Champ Camp.
Ché Ochtli is our Survivor Services Volunteer of the Year in recognition of an unbeatable commitment to strengthening the partnership between AARBF and UCI Health Regional Burn Center…and California at large.
Ché Roble Ochtli is the Burn Program Coordinator at UCI Health Regional Burn Center. With nine years of experience in healthcare and burns, their work lies in collective capacity building, and creating tangible commitments to equity centered care.
It is through this capacity building that Ché has been a fabulous hospital liaison with AARBF. Always looking to go the extra mile, Ché is an advocate in the hospital setting and through community outreach—creating new opportunities for AARBF’s programs and services to reach more people and strengthening the connections among us all. Ché serves on multiple AARBF committees and in 2023, we were delighted to welcome Ché onto our Council of Advisors. This is who you want in your corner any and every time (and just about the kindest soul on the planet, too).
Ché had this to say about receiving the Survivor Services Volunteer award, “Hi everyone I’m Ché! I am deeply thankful and honored by this recognition. It’s been a joy and pleasure to serve the survivor community and I look forward to our continued work to support all those affected by burn injury.”
Clifton Stewart is our Executive Volunteer of the Year. The Executive Award is our way of honoring members of our Board and Council of Advisors for their leadership role within AARBF.
Clifton Stewart, raised in Los Angeles, California, is deeply embedded in both his local community and the broader nonprofit and business sectors. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Board for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and as the President of Friends of Camp Whitsett. Clifton’s contribution as VP of the AARBF board has been immense, and he has furthered the level of his support of the foundation by generously donating his time and expertise to co-chair the AARBF Development Committee and chair the By Laws Committee. In 2022, Clif served as a key lead in AARBF’s statewide 50th Anniversary Fundraiser Celebration.
Professionally, Clifton is a District Manager at Aflac and the Principal of S & S Insurance Solutions, LLC. A proud Eagle Scout and recipient of the Vigil Honor, his roots in the Boy Scouts have shaped his commitment to service and leadership. Clifton is happily married to Jennifer, and together they are proud parents to their 23-year-old daughter, Jordan.
Peter “Chop Suey” Reynaga is our People’s Choice Volunteer of the Year. He received this honor based on numerous nominations from the AARBF burn community.
Peter is a Central Valley native, having grown up in Fresno. He was first introduced to the Alisa Ann Burn Foundation after suffering burns in a car accident at the age of 14, where during his recovery, he was introduced to fellow survivors and AARBF volunteers. The following year, Peter attended his first event, the Ski trip. During the remainder of his teens, he participated in Champ Camp, YAS, the Outdoor trip, the Ski trip, and many other AARBF events. After aging out of Champ Camp “Chop Suey” spent one year as a CIT and had been a counselor at Champ Camp every year he wasn’t deployed as a seasonal Firefighter with CAL Fire.
Peter has been a dedicated volunteer with AARBF for the Central Valley Burn Relay, most of our outdoor activity trips, as well as the Clovis Dinner and Dance. It is his readiness to participate in the Camps and Recreation events, helping with youth survivors of all ages that makes Peter our People’s Choice Volunteer for 2024.
When asked why he continues to give of his time, Peter reflected on an interaction from last year’s Champ Camp in which one of his senior campers expressed how impactful their time was at camp. He saw in real time how the community that grows in just a short week builds a connection that transcends time and distance from friends. This is what Peter himself experienced as a young survivor, and because he can help foster that in the next generation, he returns every year.
Selena “Pookie” Brown is our Champy-On Volunteer of the Year. Our Champy-On award is presented in recognition of someone who has been an essential person to Champ Camp for 10 or more years.
Selena attended Champ Camp for the first time in 2005 as a counselor for young female burn survivors and until this day she remains a fixture in the Champ Camp experience. Selena embodies the Champ Camp spirit with her positivity and enthusiasm. She has never hesitated to wear a silly costume or be part of our many ridiculous but entertaining skits and by doing so, inspires others to do the same.
Over the years Selena and Woodside Fire Department has helped us with several fundraising opportunities like our Burn Relays and she has participated in our Bows for Dough fundraiser solidifying her as the recipient for this year’s Champy-On Award.
Selena has more recently accepted the role as one of the Counselor in Training unit leaders where she continues to be a tremendously valuable peer and ally to young burn survivors ages 18-20 at events like Champ Camp and The Young Adult Summit. Her continued support of the burn survivor community over the years has had a profound and positive impact on the lives of many young burn survivors, always uplifting those around her with contagious levels of fun and passion.
Russ Charvonia is the 2024 recipient of the Ruch Family Circle Volunteer of the Year. The Ruch Family Circle is the most prestigious award that we present, awarded to someone who has been instrumental to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, for 10 or more years.
In June of 2014, Russ and his wife, Linda, attended Champ Camp for a night where they were able to see and interact with campers and counselors, which lead to AARBF becoming very near and dear to their hearts. This took Russ down the path to ways in which he could support AARBF and our burn community. As Grand Master of the Masons in California, Russ was instrumental in raising $250,000 for our FISE program. In 2016, Russ joined our Board of Directors and became our Board President in 2020. In addition to serving on our board and raising funds for the foundation, he also generously donated his time to our southern region. From day-to-day administrative tasks to attending regional events, we could always count on Russ.
Although Russ’ board term ended this year, he is still very much involved with the foundation, meeting regularly with and mentoring our Development Director as well as providing guidance to our new Board President. We are honored and very fortunate to have Russ as a part of the AARBF family and we appreciate his many years of support in a variety of ways to the Foundation.
Spring is in full bloom and all the plants and shrubs and trees are pushing all their energy into explosive growth. This is the perfect time to keep things trimmed and tidy and be sure you always maintain a defensible space for wildfire safety. Vegetation management to reduce fire risk is not hard, but you will want to keep it up. Zone 0 is from the walls of your structure out 5 feet, and the goal is to keep this as an ember-resistant zone. Think about hardscapes–using gravel, pavers, or concrete instead of mulch that can catch fire and burn quickly. Clear out dead weeds and grasses, keep branches and bushes trimmed 10 feet back from chimneys, and store firewood farther away from the home, not stacked against the wall. Just keeping an eye out for safety might inspire you to make some great new landscape choices. Remember, wildfire season is year-round.
If you’d like to see more resources for wildfire preparedness, visit our website at https://www.aarbf.org/wildfirepreparedness/
Attention Trade School, Junior College, and College Students (or those planning to be enrolled in the 2024/2025 academic year)…
It is time to start thinking about the AARBF “Bridge to Life” Scholarship offered by the Woody and Louise Reed family to support burn survivors and their family members pursuing higher education.
It is money for school, and it is available to you to apply!
We know you’ve got finals and classes and projects and…LIFE…this year, but a little bit of planning now can make next year smoother sailing.
Applications are now open: https://forms.gle/HCaBGdzJeqz3qvxu8
And if you are pursuing a master’s degree or PhD, you can use the same application to apply for the “Aiming Higher” scholarship for burn survivors, sponsored by Care Plans for Life, LLC.
And if the application get sticky for you, your Care Managers, Martha and Michael, are always ready to help. Just reach out.
Champ Camp will be held at the Wonder Valley Resort in Sanger on June 8th – 15th. Camp is open to burn survivor children, ages 5-17. It is a great place for kids to be kids, making lasting friendships.
Register your child today at http://app.campdoc.com/register/aarbf, select “Register for a New Session” then select “Champ Camp – Camper 2024.”
For questions, please contact Erika “Kika” Mendoza at [email protected].If you would like to support these young burn survivors, please consider joining or forming a team as part of our Champy-On fundraiser. Click here to register or make a one-time donation.
Have you considered leaving a planned gift that can leave a lasting impact? Legacy gifts are one of the most meaningful gifts you can make to ensure that AARBF continues to provide vital support, services and programming to our burn survivor community for many years to come. Members of the Legacy Circle leave a lasting legacy by naming the AARBF in their will, trust or estate plan. To discuss more on how you can leave a lasting legacy please contact [email protected] or visit https://www.aarbf.org/support-us/legacy-circle/
Team registration has begun for our annual Champy-On fundraiser. We invite you to join the fun and register for a team. Champy-On kicks off on April 15th and ends the day before Champ Camp. If you have a competitive spirit and love a good challenge – this fundraising event will speak your love language! Our goal is $39,000 in honor of the 39th year of Champ Camp and funds raised will directly benefit AARBF’s programs and services.
New for 2024 – Join one of our already created teams (AARBF Board and Council, Champ Camp 2024 CITs, Champ Camp 2024 Seniors, Champ Camp 2024 Volunteers, Champ Camp Alumni). Just select the team you wish to join during the registration process. You can still set your own individual goal and have donations made directly in your name.
Register today at: https://p2p.onecause.com/champyon2024For more information, please reach out to Elisa at [email protected].
On March 5th – 6th, AARBF’s Andrew Mersmann traveled to Santa Barbara to promote the fire and burn prevention programs we offer through the foundation at the California Fire Prevention Institute (CFPI) conference. This was a great opportunity to say hello to our current prevention partners and introduce ourselves to those looking to expand their prevention programming to include burn prevention education. AARBF offers several educational safety programs to those under 5 years up to aging adults, as well as neurotypical/diverse and the unhoused. Click here to learn more about our prevention programs.
On Thursday, March 7th, AARBF’s Elisa Brooke and Katrina Arthur spent the day with fire departments located within California’s central valley for the annual Central Valley Burn Relay. We had a wonderful time visiting with our firefighter partners, saying hello to old friends and making new ones. We truly appreciate the time spent together and being able to share more about the foundation’s prevention and survivor services programs. We are honored to have many firefighters volunteer for the foundation and the relays provide a great opportunity for those who are interested in volunteering to learn more about us.
Thank you to our relay participants: Fresno Firefighters, Local 202, Clovis Firefighters, Coalinga Firefighters Association, Sanger Firefighters Association, Fresno Fire Chief’s Foundation, Reedley Firefighters, Fresno-Kings Firefighters, Kingsburg Firefighters, and the Madera-Mariposa-Merced CALFire Unit Firefighters.
We also thank burn survivor, Peter Reynaga, for sharing your story with the departments and for the CRMC burn unit staff for your support of the Central Valley Burn Relay.
On March 8th – 10th, young burn survivors participated in the 26th annual Statewide Ski Trip. We had a great turnout with fifty-eight attendees coming together for a snowy weekend. Thirty-one burn survivors, three CITs, twenty-three volunteers, and one staff bundled up and got ready to take on their next adventure at Bear Valley Ski Resort. Participants could choose between skiing or snowboarding, and after taking lessons as a group, everyone was off to try the different mountain paths. Later, we met at Bear Valley Village where we rode snowmobiles through the beautiful village.
This weekend would not be possible without our year-to-year incredible sponsors: Stockton Firefighters Local 456, Murphys Fire Protection District, Ebbetts Pass Fire Protection District, Bear Valley Skyline Resort, Bear Valley Department of Public Safety, Bear Valley Snowmobile, Arnold Angels, Manteca Firefighters Local 1874 and Santa Clara County Firefighters Local 1165. We want to give a special thank you to our newest sponsor, Gold Country Roasters for providing our group with tasty morning drinks. Our sponsors fed our group and created snack bags for the go, provided shelter, provided all rental equipment and lessons on the mountain as well as provided fun experiences like snowmobiling through Bear Valley Village.
Our wonderful lead, Jack Rabbit coordinated the entire weekend with our sponsors and amazing group of volunteers and staff: Alpine, Cannonball, Starman, Ducky, Princess, Skipper, Tokyo, Rascal, Echo, Neon, Ricky Rescue, Kappa, Buc, Lentil, Mango, Chop Suey, Grizzie, Shred, Boba and Kika. We also welcomed six new incredible counselors: Ripley, Comet, Rooster, Jett, FireGoose, and Domino.
Thank you all for making this trip beyond incredible, core memories were made!
On Saturday, March 16th, we held our first ever Under-5 Monterey Bay Aquarium Trip for our little survivors (ages 0-5) and their families.
Our seven families, ten volunteers, and one staff member were graciously hosted by Monterey Bay Fire Station 11. A huge thank you to Raul, Phillip, and the Monterey Firefighters for going above and beyond with their kid-friendly snacks, yummy lunch, station tour, games, energy, and providing the space for our littles and the families to meet. Following the fire station, the group headed over to enjoy the rest of the day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We were able to enjoy the different sea creatures including getting to explore the new “Deep Sea” exhibit.
Thank you to our volunteers: Poppy, Gidget, Kamikaze, Lil Bear, Kitty, Mee Mee, Daffodil, Hammerhead, Rye and friends for dedicating your time, love, and support in making this event great for the families and the littles. We look forward to seeing everyone throughout the year for our other family events.
Every year we share about how much fun our Champ Camp campers have at Wonder Valley in Sanger. This is your chance to experience all that Wonder Valley has to offer. Please join us on Sunday, April 21st from 11:30am to 3:30pm for their Family Day. Enjoy family activities and food trucks in partnership with Fresno Street Eats. Proceeds from this event will directly benefit AARBF’s Champ Camp.
For more information, please visit www.wondervalley.com.
Calling all cooks! The annual Champ Camp Chili Cook-Off will be held on Wednesday, June 12th during Champ Camp in Wonder Valley. If you’d like to join the fun, please register using the link below. Judging will be completed by the children attending camp, so please plan your recipe accordingly.
Please click here to register.
For more information, contact Erika “Kika” Mendoza at [email protected].
Applications are open now through mid-June for the Woody and Louise Reed Bridge to Life Scholarship. This incredible program made possible by the Reed family awards scholarships to burn survivors or their immediate family members seeking post-secondary education after high school. This can be community college, college, university, or trade school and is open to all ages going directly into or returning to education.
For burn survivors pursuing higher academic degrees, Master’s level or Ph.D., use the same application for the Aiming Higher Scholarship to supplement your school cost and pave the way to your bright future.Find the link to apply by visiting our website at: https://www.aarbf.org/project/bridge-to-life-scholarship/
Champ Camp will be held at the Wonder Valley Resort in Sanger on June 8th – 15th. Camp is open to burn survivor children, ages 5-17. It is a great place for kids to be kids, making lasting friendships.
Register your child today at http://app.campdoc.com/register/aarbf, select “Register for a New Session” then select “Champ Camp – Camper 2024.”
For questions, please contact Erika “Kika” Mendoza at [email protected].
If you would like to support these young burn survivors, please consider joining or forming a team as part of our Champy-On fundraiser. Click here to register or make a one-time donation beginning April 15, 2024.
AARBF honored National Burn Awareness Week (BAW), February 4th -10th by sharing burn prevention messaging created by our friends at the American Burn Association. BAW is an annual initiative to bring together burn, fire, and life safety educators to educate the public about the devastation and causes of burn injuries and the steps you can take to prevent them. This year’s theme was “Flammable Liquids.” We shared tips throughout the week to show ways to prevent burn injuries to keep you and your family safe.
On Friday, February 16th, the fire academy students from the Fresno City College (FCC), Class 61 hosted a car wash accepting donations for this year’s Fresno Urban Run fundraiser. By the end of the day, the FCC team had met their fundraising goal of $5,000. Way to go, Team FCC!
This awesome group of cadets has pledged to keep going and has increased their goal to $10,000. We are looking forward to seeing what other events they have planned to help them reach their fundraising goal and gain “Top Team” bragging rights.
We have three teams competing in this year’s fundraiser. You can help FCC reach their new goal or catch up one of the others by visiting: https://p2p.onecause.com/fresnourbanrun2024 and click on Donate Now. Be sure to indicate the team you wish to support near the top of the donation form.
The date of the run day has been changed and is now scheduled a month earlier on Sunday, April 7, 2024. If you are interested in participating in the run, please visit https://www.adventuresignup.com/Race/CA/Fresno/FresnoUrbanRun for all of the details.
Over the Presidents’ Day weekend, February 16th -19th, a group of thirty young adults came together at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria for the Young Adult Summit (YAS). This year’s theme was “Survivor,” and we explored the values of connection, leadership, and thriving. We participated in a variety of workshops, including body image, finance, etiquette, public speaking, and more. The good weather allowed us to spend quality time at the beach and observe the elephant seals. We were thrilled to be joined by 10 participants and mentors from our Chicago and Canada exchange programs. We would like to extend a special thank you to our amazing volunteers, including Chief, Buggy, Blondie, Stretch, Dr. Ruth, Tex, Buc, Shakespeare, Knuckles, Bubbles, Hydra, Pookie, Dash, Butterbean, and Kamikaze, for helping make the weekend a success. It was an incredible experience to be able to provide the tools that will continue to support our young adults as they grow and thrive. Thank you to everyone who joined and made it happen.
AARBF hosted two groups over the President’s Day weekend. In addition to our YAS attendees, we also joyfully welcomed thirty adult burn survivors to the Adult Retreat 2024. The team of facilitators and participants provided a secure place for everyone to continue their healing process and personal growth. The retreat allowed old friends to reconnect while also providing the opportunity to make new friends. Thought-provoking sessions involving grief/loss, body image, guided meditations, music, and more were held, with a focus on the famous words of James Bosch – “If you could see what I see” – resonating throughout the entire weekend. We are grateful to everyone who was able to attend the event and be present. We look forward to seeing you throughout the year and at next year’s Adult Retreat.
During the month of February our Survivor Services Care Managers, Martha Banks and Michael Knopf, were busy visiting their local burn units to conduct presentations to hospital staff on the survivor and prevention programs and services available through AARBF. The presentations were conducted during hospital staff meetings which included staff from all shifts. It was a great opportunity to share how AARBF can provide support to their patients as well as answer any questions from staff members. Together, Martha and Michael reached 145 staff members. Thank you for all of the staff members from our partner hospitals taking the time to attend.
Applications are open now through mid-June for the Woody and Louise Reed Bridge to Life Scholarship. This incredible program made possible by the Reed family awards scholarships to burn survivors or their immediate family members seeking post-secondary education after high school. This can be community college, college, university, or trade school and is open to all ages going directly into or returning to education.
For burn survivors pursuing higher academic degrees, Master’s level or Ph.D., use the same application for the Aiming Higher Scholarship to supplement your school cost and pave the way to your bright future.Find the link to apply by visiting our website at: https://www.aarbf.org/project/bridge-to-life-scholarship/
Calling out to all potential CITs for Champ Camp 2024. If you have not already had the chance and would like to become a CIT this year you have until Friday, March 15th to turn in your application and have it completed to the best of your abilities. Further steps will be communicated to those who have completed their application after this date.
Complete your application today at: http://app.campdoc.com/register/aarbf
We kicked off the New Year by sending one survivor and one counselor to attend the THRIVE Retreat in Canada, January 11-15. This annual retreat is hosted by the BC Firefighters Burn Fund and is designed for young adult burn survivors. At this event we quickly integrated with another sixteen survivors from across British Columbia. We were able to participate in multiple workshops and activities and brave some super cold temperatures! It is so exciting to attend exchange programs with other camps and burn foundations—by doing so we have the opportunity to visit their incredible locations and events and exchange ideas to enhance our local camp programs.
During the month of January, we shared weekly goals each Wednesday to help those who resolved to focus on their health and well-being. They are also great tips even if you resolved to not make resolutions in 2024.
Tip #1
Physical well-being: Set a goal to improve mobility, flexibility and strengths. Work towards achievable milestones such as a 10-minute stretch exercise, or walking around the block.
The new year is here! Are you thinking about creating new goals? Here are some ideas for possible goals for 2024.
Physical Wellness: Set a goal to help you improve your mobility, flexibility, and strength. Work toward an attainable goal like 10 minutes of stretching, or walking around your block.
Tip #2
Emotional well-being: Make a goal to seek counseling or support groups to address the emotional and the psychological impact of the burn injury. Learn coping skills that will help you manage any anxiety, depression or PTSD.
Emotional Wellness: Set a goal to seek counseling or support groups where you can discuss the emotional and psychological impact of your burn injuries. Learn new skills that will help you manage any anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Tip #3
Daily living Reintegration: Establish an achievable goal that can help to gradually reintegrate into your daily activities such as work, school, or social events such as calling your school social worker or counselor to ask about school options, calling a long-time friend to arrange a coffee talk over zoom or in-person. It will help you build confidence and independence.
Reintegration into daily life: Make an attainable goal that will help you gradually reintegrate into your daily activities like work, school, or social events like calling your school social worker or counselor to ask about your options, calling a friend for coffee via zoom or in person. This will help you build confidence and independence.
Tip #4
Community Engagement: Set a goal to engage in a support group, peer support, or community events to connect with others who understand your experience and offer mutual support. At AARF, we provide support groups to meet the needs of patients, burn survivors, and their support system. For additional information, location for in-person meetings, or the Zoom login please reach out to:
Martha Banks [email protected] 818-848-0223 Ext 130
Michael Knopf [email protected] 415-495-7223 Ext 190
For up-to-date information on upcoming Support Groups and Events visit: www.aarbf.org
Community Involvement: Make it a goal to participate in support groups, peer support, or community events with people who understand your experience and offer mutual support. At AARBF, we provide support groups to meet the needs of burn patients, survivors, and their support system.
For additional information, in-person group locations, or links to virtual groups, please contact:
Martha Banks [email protected] 818-848-0223 Ext 130
Michael Knopf [email protected] 415-495-7223 Ext 190
For up-to-date information on support groups or events visit the website: www.aarbf.org
Tip #5
Scar and Pain Management: Set a goal to follow a scar and pain management plan. Include regular moisturizing and scar massaging in your daily routine to promote scar healing and minimize discomfort. Work with a health care professional to develop a plan for reducing pain levels through physical therapy or other pain management techniques.
Pain Management and Scar Care: Set a goal to follow a plan to manage your pain and care for your scars. Including moisturizing and massaging your scars in your daily routine will promote healing of your scars and minimize discomfort. Work with a health care professional to develop a plan that can help reduce your pain level through physical therapy or other pain management techniques.
On January 12-15, 2024, the Champ Camp planning team gathered at Pismo Beach to begin preparations for Champ Camp 2024. Our group was generously hosted by “Shakespeare,” and the retreat was led by our amazing camp directors, “Rocks” and “Willow.” Dedicated volunteers from across the state and country, traveled to attend the retreat where we decided on a theme – watch for that announcement coming soon! If you’re interested in becoming a counselor, it’s not too late. Click here to visit the Champ Camp page and click on the application link.
The AARBF Staff and Board and Council met for their respective in-person retreats during the fourth week in January in Pismo Beach and Los Osos. The staff arrived in Pismo Beach on Wednesday, January 24th and dived right into a busy agenda which included learning about new operational procedures, how to make an effective presentation, fund development 101, improvements to our volunteer application and onboarding process, and several team building activities. We also assembled Champ Camp hospital bags designed for children currently being treated in California burn units. These bags contain fun camp items for the kids and information about AARBF and Champ Camp for the parents. The Care Managers will be distributing the bags over the next two months during their hospital in-service presentations.
On Friday, January 26th, the board and council members arrived and staff joined them for lunch and an awesome escape room team building activity. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to work together, using our unique skillsets to beat the clock and escape. At dinner, we were delighted to be joined by Ruch family members, including Diane Ruch Host.
On Saturday, January 27th, the board and council were joined by staff in Los Osos for the morning session which included the installation of new board members and officers, who will serve for a two-year term. We were also excited to see so many of our council members able to join in for the weekend. Staff gave a presentation on the parameters we’ve identified to determine success in our programs and services before leaving for home at Noon. The board and council continued their retreat through Sunday, January 28th, where they reviewed the goals of the various board committees and began the groundwork for a new three-year strategic plan.
Board committees are not restricted to board and council members. We have committees focused on Survivor Services, Prevention, Fund Development, Finance, and Communications. If you would like to join a committee or our board and council, please visit our website at https://www.aarbf.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ to learn more or contact us at info@aarbf. org.
Mark your calendar for the 50th Anniversary of the Torrance Firefighters Association’s Spaghetti Dinner and Bake Sale on Saturday, March 9th. We hope you will take part in this family-friendly evening while supporting Torrance Firefighters, AARBF and Champ Camp. Watch our social media for updates.
The Hanford Fire Department (Scott Mellon) and Fire Academy students from the Fresno City College (FCC), Class 61 and College of the Sequoias, Class 21-42 are raising funds for AARBF and Champ Camp by participating in the Fresno Urban Run on Sunday , May 5th. This is an annual event and our three teams will not only be competing against each other on May 5th but are also in a race to see who can be the top fundraiser. Are you for Team Hanford, Team FCC, or Team Sequoias? Show your support by visiting: https://p2p.onecause.com/fresnourbanrun2024 and cheer your team to victory!
On Saturday, December 2nd, we cohosted the annual holiday party with our friends from the CRMC Burn Unit. We had a great time spending the day with twenty-four families from across the valley enjoying great food, creating fun crafts, decorating cookies, and taking pictures with Santa. This day would not have been possible without our fabulous volunteers and generous partners who donated bikes, bike helmets, toys, and their time to ensure everyone had the best day.
A special thank you to our Central Valley community partners: CRMC Burn Unit, National University Student Nursing Cohort 29, Coalinga Fire Department, Fresno Fire Department, and Sierra High School. Thank you for making the holidays shine for our survivors and their families.
On December 3rd, we had a blast renewing friendships and creating new ones at the SoCal Holiday Party. With over 155 guests registered for this year’s event, we knew it would be epic. Everyone had a great time, visiting with each other over lunch, making fun crafts, cookie decorating, and of course, meeting Santa. We so enjoyed having our SoCal families spend the day with us.
We are so very grateful to our wonderful volunteers: Marilyn and Danna Bran, Lourdes Heredia, Sandra Correa, the Velaport Family (Fabiola, Jasmin, Nicholi, and Abby), the Lopez Family (Eunice, Kayla, Erick, and Liana), Lynne and Nils Gjertson, Aymar Family (Bob, Leslie, Amy and Megan), Angelica & Ulbens Benoit-Hernandez, Che Ochtli, Valeria Aragon, Dulce Diaz and Jose Hernandez. We could not have held this event without each and every one of you. Thank you!
The AARBF holiday parties continued on December 9th and 10th in Northern California. On Saturday, we spent time with our friends at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose where we had thirty-one families join us. Our time included cookie decorating, ornament painting, and shopping bag decorating for use in Santa’s store. Picture time was the best. Not only did our guests get to take photos with Santa they also got to meet Captain America!
A very special thank you to our friend and long-time holiday party supporter, Linda Carrier, and her family. We would also like to thank our huge team of volunteers, West Coast Avengers (Captain America), and of course, Santa!
On December 12th, AARBF was invited to attend the Traffic Controllers Supervisor Association’s Christmas luncheon where Erika and Katrina shared the mission of AARBF and were the recipients of the TCSA’s holiday toy drive. The toys collected will help support families in need from the Central Valley this Christmas. AARBF is grateful to all the members of TCSA who generously brought toys for burn survivors and their families. And, we look forward to growing our community partnership. TSCA members include the City of Clovis, Fresno County, Madera County, and Tulare County.
On December 22nd, AARBF partnered with the Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Fresno, CA to distribute those toys, providing a little extra support to several burn survivors and their families during the holiday season. Parents were invited to “shop” the toys that were generously donated by the TCSA. AARBF is privileged to assist CRMC in helping to alleviate some of the stress of the holidays for those burn survivors living in the Central Valley.
Thank you to the Fresno Fire Department (and Arson K-9 Shilo) for providing a unique venue and experience for the survivors and their families.
2023 was an amazing year filled with many beautiful moments and changes. One such moment includes when Martha Banks joined the AARBF Team as the new Survivor Care Manager.
In this video link above, Martha opens up and shares her experience of being a child burn survivor. Included in her story was how meeting James Bosch, an AARBF staff member and burn survivor, influenced her life. James visited her in the hospital while she was being treated for her burn injuries and remained a resource to her as she began her survivor journey. This care management had a profound impact on Martha which inspired her throughout her life and ultimately led her to come back to AARBF as an adult to provide that same support and care to other burn survivors.
The Power of Support is something we value here at AARBF and strive to provide to our burn survivor community. From support groups to the newly named, James Bosch Therapy Grant, we assist our survivors and their family members as they navigate their own journey.
We are so very grateful for the generous support of South San Francisco Fire who hosted their annual Bocce Ball fundraiser benefitting AARBF. We appreciate their continued support and invaluable partnership. We also thank the fabulous sponsors who helped make this event a success.
In December, we were excited to announce the opening of the Young Adult Summit (YAS) and Adult Retreat applications. Burn survivors are invited to join us February 16-19 in beautiful Cambria for a weekend filled with learning and friendship.
YAS is open to burn survivors ages 16-20 years old.
Register today at: http://app.campdoc.com/register/aarbf
Select “New Session” then select “YAS Participant 2024”. If you are a volunteer, select “New Session” then select “YAS Mentors 2024”.
The Adult Retreat is open to burn survivor adults ages 21 and over. Use the same link above to register.
Select “New Session” then select “Retreat Participant 2024”. If you are a volunteer, select “New Session” then select “Retreat Staff 2024”.
If you have any questions on either of these programs, please reach out to Erika “Kika” Mendoza at [email protected].