December 2025 Burn Bulletin

Please join us in congratulating Katrina Arthur on her recent promotion to Associate Director! Within her expanded role, Katrina will be responsible for staff management as well as the day-to-day operations of the Foundation. She will continue to be a strong presence in both our fundraising activities and prevention programming, where she has fostered collaboration among stakeholders (team members, survivors, volunteers, and community partners) and encouraged open innovation.

Katrina is looking forward to working with the Board of Directors in the coming weeks on budgeting and strategic planning. She can be reached at karthur@aarbf.org.

Northern – North Bay
On Wednesday, November 5th, Erika Mendoza from Survivor Services was able to ride along with Ross Valley Fire and go from station to station collecting donations for AARBF. An amazing total of $20,170 was raised. Sixteen fire departments from across Sonoma and Marin County joined in, bringing back the procession of engines and making this year’s North Bay Firefighters Burn Relay truly impactful. Thank you to all of the departments for coming together to support our mission.

Northern – South Bay/Peninsula

On Thursday, November 6th, the South Bay Firefighters Burn Relay took place, with Lea Elder from our Executive Board accompanying Erika Mendoza from Survivor Services as they traveled from station to station. Although there was no engine procession this year, each department warmly welcomed the relay team and showed tremendous generosity. Starting in Santa Clara and ending in Daly City, the relay raised an outstanding $44,973.50 in just one day, making it another truly impactful and successful event for our burn survivor community.

Southern – LA County

On Friday, November 7th, Chris McKeever from our Executive Board and Martha Banks from our Survivor Services team traveled to six southern California fire departments for the SoCal Firefighters Burn Relay. The Relay was able to raise an awesome total of $21,500. Thank you to the six wonderful fire departments that were able to be a part of this year’s relay, we look forward to being able to bring the full engine procession back for next year.

On Saturday, November 22nd, AARBF welcomed supporters from across the Central Valley to the Clovis Rodeo Grounds for a sold-out 15th Annual Dinner & Dance. Attendees enjoyed the live, silent, and dessert auction as well as Plinko and a Whiskey Tasting to help raise $45,440 for AARBF and its programs. With generous donations from small businesses and sponsorships from CALFIRE Benevolent Fund, Johansons Transportation, Fresno Fire Chiefs Foundation, CVTR, CVFCU, Fresno City Local 202 and Councilman Mike Karbassi, we are grateful for the success of this event. 

Special thanks to Riley’s Brewing, Quintessential Wines, Ponchos Pumpkins, and Paisley Wines. 

And to our volunteers from the Fresno City College Fire Academy Class 64 and Sierra High CSF, your hard work is greatly appreciated. 

We felt this year’s event was incredible, but do not take our word for it, this is what one of our guests had to say:

“This year’s Dinner & Dance was a blast! It was so special to be a part of this event and have the opportunity to invite burn survivors from the Bay Area to attend. Events like this are a great reminder of how many good people come together to do something special for the burn community. Seeing different community partners, survivors, and friends of AARBF all together in the same place celebrating each other and having a good time was such a great way to kick off the holiday season.”

We look forward to seeing you at our 16th Annual Dinner & Dance on November 21, 2026. 

From November 12-15, our survivor services team of Michael, Martha and Erika attending the Phoenix Society’s World Burn Congress in Convington, Kentucky. An amazing group of 800 burn survivors, caregivers, medical professionals, and community members gathered together for 4 packed days full of powerful/insightful workshops, shared experiences and uplifting moments. The team was able to support the congress through leading support groups, being a part of panels and presenting about the amazing programs AARBF is able to provide in California. It was a great week of connection and continued healing.

Our Northern Care Manager, Michael Knopf, had this to say, “given that I was burned over 25 years ago, I felt for a long time that World Burn Congress wasn’t intended for me and that I had missed my window to attend and it be impactful. I felt like I was no longer the target audience for an event like that and it was more suited for folks who had been burned more recently. I could not have been more pleasantly surprised have the realization that WBC is an opportunity for all burn survivors to explore their identity and feelings as a burn survivor regardless of when, how, or how badly you were burned. It was so incredible for me to experience this and it was a much-needed reality check that no matter how far I’ve come, or how much progress I’ve made there is still so much gain from opportunities like this.”

During the month of November, long time volunteers and supporters of AARBF, Mike “Colonel” Sanders and Mike “Otter” Gonzalez hosted a donation matching challenge. We are excited to share we received $2,562 in donations of which $2,000 were matched by Colonel and Otter for a total of $4,562 Thank you to everyone who shared Colonel’s message and supported the matching campaign. We are truly grateful for you.

Our year-long sticker of the month campaign is ending. This is your last chance to receive our exclusive sticker of the month, with December featuring a festive snow globe Champy. Get yours today by making a one-time donation of $100 or more through our website or annual appeal giving page. Your support today will help us reduce our wait lists for in-demand burn survivor camps and recreation activities, such as the Young Adult Summit and Adult Retreat.

Meet Nils “Skipper” Gjertson, who’s life path changed when he was injured in a house fire that burned over 25% of his body- including his face, arms and hands.  Across the years of his recovery, Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s programs helped Skipper come to terms with both physical and personal challenges. According to Skipper, “AARBF’s Champ Camp, community and leadership programs filled a large void and gave me both a purpose and a sense of belonging without judgement”. Today he is a strong contributor to those programs teaching lessons he learned to new burn survivors as a camp counselor and volunteer. Visit https://givebutter.com/AARBF-AA-2025 to read Skipper’s story.

Now in our 55th year, AARBF programs have helped burn survivors across California. Please help us to deliver lasting results in our community via a direct donation now.  Our small staff and large pool of volunteers, like Skipper ensure that every dollar you contribute has a high impact. Now more than ever, we need your help, please donate and share this message with friends and family.

On October 4th, Badfish Beer hosted their 2nd annual Beerfest to raise funds for AARBF and Champ Camp. Their one-day evening event raised enough money to send fourteen kids to Champ Camp in 2026 (that is two more children than last year). Thank you to Edward Bird of Badfish for your continued passion and support.

AARBF once again partnered with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and sent one camper and one counselor to their annual camp in Edgewater, MD, September 27th – October 4th.

IAFF’s prestigious program brings together fire fighters, medical professionals, and young burn survivors from across the United States and Canada. Our camper joined campers from 49 other burn camps to participate in a week of educational, leadership, and team-building activities. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for survivors to connect with peers, build confidence, and represent their community on a national stage.

The program includes guided tours of historic sites in Washington, D.C., visits to Smithsonian museums, a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, and a tour of the U.S. Naval Academy. These experiences are designed to foster resilience, leadership, and civic engagement among participants.

During Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11, AARBF teamed up with NFPA to promote this year’s theme, “Charge Into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” Through a series of social media posts, we encouraged our followers to help us spread the word about making smart choices when it comes to buying, charging, and recycling lithium-ion batteries—because the wrong move can lead to a fire.

One of our favorite Fire Prevention Week activities is the annual Central Coast Burn Relay. The Relay consists of two routes. The North route kicked off at the San Miguel Fire Station at 7:40 am stopped at six elementary schools north of Cuesta Grade. The South route kicked off at CAL Fire San Luis County Fire Department Station 70 at 8:00 am and stopped at seven local elementary schools. Each stop included a check presentation to recognize the contributions made by each Fire Department and school as well as a prevention education presentation with their corresponding fire department and AARBF representative. The event ended with a grand finale at the SLO Farmer’s Market for Fire Prevention Night, where participating fire departments, local burn survivors, and AARBF staff gave a short presentation.

This year’s participating Fire Departments in the relay procession included San Miguel, Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, Santa Margarita, CAL Fire SLO County, and Five Cities Fire Department. The North route enjoyed lunch with Santa Margarita Elementary, and the South route enjoyed lunch with St. Patrick School. During these lunch breaks, firefighters were able to spend quality time with the students, engage in outdoor games and answer students’ questions. 

This relay is unique because it reaches thirteen elementary schools, totaling close to 4,500 students. The firefighters make prevention education fun and relatable to the students.

During the month of October, AARBF staff and volunteers attended several Firefighter Pancake Breakfasts and Open Houses, many of which donated their proceeds to the foundation.

Saturday, October 4th, Katrina joined the Paso Robles Fire Department for a morning of fire and burn prevention education. The PRFD opened the doors to almost 300 residents to learn about AARBF’s Stop, Drop & Roll, High 5 a Firefighter, meet a first responder therapy Dog, and enjoy some live demonstrations of the jaws of life and a structure fire.

Also on October 4th, Lea “Kamikaze” Elder was at the Mountain View Firefighters pancake breakfast where attendees were able to interact with the firefighters as they toured the station and learn about the various equipment in use. In addition, they raffled off a custom-painted 72V Vintage Electric Bike, styled to match their brand-new fire apparatus fleet.

On October 11th, the Albany Fire Department pancake breakfast and open house reached approximately 1,000 people in their community with Michael handing out 600 prevention education materials. Attendees were able to see the different equipment used within the fire station.

Across the bay in San Mateo, Dave “Shakespeare” Miller, AARBF Board President attend one of our largest fire prevention events of the season. The open house welcomes 3,500 community members to visit station 28 to watch live demonstrations of vehicle extrications, fire extinguishers drills, and learn how to make their community safer. AARBF joined in the fun sharing Stop, Drop & Roll as well as our FISE lessons to kids and families.

Also on October 11th, Lea “Kamikaze” Elder was at the Sunnyvale DPS Firefighters pancake breakfast where they fed about 750 attendees, some of whom took turns honing their Stop, Drop & Roll skills.

October 11th was a busy day for AARBF, Erika joined the Coalinga Fire Department for their annual open house, sharing burn and fire prevention with this central valley community. Station tours, equipment demonstrations, and Stop, Drop & Roll were the highlights of the day.

On October 12th, Katrina joined the Hanford Fire Department for their annual open house and safety fair. Families learned about fire alarms, how to create an escape plan, and cheered Sparky on as he showed off his Stop, Drop & Roll technique. More than 300 families attended the event, taking stickers, fire helmets, and some delicious, sweet treats.

We ended the month at the Menlo Park Fire pancake breakfast on October 25th, hosted by Junior League Palo Alto MP in partnership with Menlo Park Fire. AARBF Council members, Natalie and Susan taught Stop, Drop & Roll while attendees enjoyed a morning filled with fun family activities, seeing the fire equipment, and even a silent auction.

AARBF is proud to partner with local our fire departments to provide burn and fire prevention education.

During October, AARBFs Katrina Arthur and council member Alison Clark worked with our partners at Pyramid Education Consultants to create and publish the newest addition to the N.I.C.K. (Neurotypical/diverse Independent Communication Kit) for Fire and Burn Safety Program. “Toys vs Tools” joins the lessons of “Stop, Drop & Roll”, “Cool-a-Burn” and “Get Low and Go” in bringing burn and fire safety to the autism and neurodiverse communities. Together with Dr Andy Bondy and Lori Frost, they presented “Toys vs Tools” in a webinar of education professionals and autism community advocates.

On Saturday, October 25th, AARBF was honored to be the recipient of the first annual Beers for Burns – Denver. Hosted by Ratio Brewery, the event was created by one of our dedicated volunteers, Lane, aka Carrot Sticks.  She, along with her community of supporters, gathered together for an afternoon of live music, raffles, and a silent auction. Together, they raised $10,263 in support of the AARBF Camps and Recreation programs. We are proud to recognize the amazing work of Carrot Sticks and are thankful for her dedication to the programs she volunteers for. 

On October 29th, Care Manager, Michael Knopf had the immense pleasure of visiting three of our fire partners for the East Bay Firefighters Relay.  Michael stopped by Albany Fire, Berkeley Fire, and Oakland Fire to recognize them for their incredible donations and continued support of AARBF made possible by Albany Fire Local 5130, Berkeley Fire Random Acts, and Oakland Fire IAFF Local 55. 

A huge thank you to these departments for their generosity and for helping us to keep supporting burn survivors and promoting fire safety throughout our communities.  

From November 1-30, we have two generous supporters pledging to match funds up to $2,000! That means every dollar you donate will be doubled until we reach the pledged amount.

Please click here to make your gift today!

AARBF is excited to welcome Old State Bourbon to the 15th Annual Dinner & Dance for an exclusive tasting for all attendees. Join us for Cocktail Hour as the doors open from 5-6 pm to sample their offerings. Enter to win a Gift Basket of the tasting menu and custom Old State swag. Raffle tickets will be available at check-in and throughout the night. 

Event Tickets and Sponsorships are available by clicking here. Tickets are pre-order only and will NOT be available at the door.

We are also still looking for donations of delicious desserts and unique experiences, products, and services, to be auctioned off during the event. All proceeds from the silent and live auctions will help provide burn prevention education and support burn survivors attending camps, retreats, and getaways in the coming year. (Donations to AARBF are tax-deductible.)

Join us on November 20th, for our monthly What Now Workshop. This month’s topic is “Managing Depression During the Holidays” and will be presented by AARBF’s Martha Banks. We know the holiday season can be challenging, let us help you through it.

Remember – our monthly workshop is open to everyone.

Click here to register today.

Register today for a holiday party near you! Join us in Clovis, Los Angeles, San Jose, or San Francisco.

Saturday, December 6th – Clovis

Sunday, December 7th – Los Angeles

Saturday, December 13th – San Francisco

Sunday, December 14th – San Jose

Please visit our calendar and click on the holiday party of your choice to register.

On September 6th, Paso Robles Professional Firefighters Local 4148, in partnership with several local organizations, proudly hosted the 3rd Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb benefiting AARBF.

The event was well attended by local first responders and community members alike, all coming together to honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities and our nation.

They are especially proud that proceeds from this event will directly support AARBF by sending three young burn survivors to Champ Camp—a life-changing experience for youth ages 5–17. At camp, these kids have the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence, and enjoy recreational activities in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.

On Saturday, September 27th, AARBF’s Katrina Arthur joined the Sanger Police Department and Sanger Fire for their 2025 National Night Out. Members of the community got a lesson in fire safety and showed off their Stop, Drop & Roll skills. Even the Fresno County Sheriff’s K9 detection dog, Jack, got in on the action. We are thankful for the opportunity to share fire and burn prevention lessons with our partner Cities. 

We are creating a short video to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Champ Camp. If you are a camper or volunteer from the current era or from the early 2000s, 90s, and 80s, we would love to see your pictures and hear your stories. 

Email photos and short memories in a voice note or video (10-15 second sound bite) or text 1-2 lines, along with your Camp Name and year(s) you attended Champ Camp, to Katrina at karthur@aarbf.org by October 24th. 

Example: “My favorite memory of Champ Camp was the dance where our counselors dressed up in wigs and makeup.” – Henny Penny, 2023-2025

The video will premiere at the 15th Annual Dinner & Dance fundraiser in Clovis, CA, on November 22nd. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, visit https://givebutter.com/c/2025AARBFDinnerDance

Join us at the 1st Annual Beers for Burns Fundraiser in Denver. We have special AARBF volunteers and community members who are hosting this event at the Ratio Beerworks in Denver on October 25th. The night will include Live Music, Hourly Raffles, Food Trucks, and a Silent Auction. All proceeds from the event will support sending youth burn survivors to Champ Camp.

When: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Where: Ratio Brewery, 2030 S Cherokee St., Denver, CO 80223
Doors open: Noon – 6 pm  

If you plan to be in the Denver, CO area, please visit www.givebutter.com/BfB-Denver to get tickets. Or you can support this event by making your tax-deductible donation today.

AARBF offers a monthly virtual workshop on topics found within the What Now? Guide for survivors and family members. These free workshops are open to everyone within our burn community – survivors, family members, donors, first responders, volunteers and supporters.

On October 23rd, the focus will be on Finding Independence. Emily Naughton will share ways to help you, or the survivor in your life, feel more independent with tips on adaptations for cooking, dressing, bathing, and getting around.

Click here to register or reach out to Martha Banks at mbanks@aarbf.org for more information.

Can you believe it is already October? And that means holiday party planning. We are hosting holiday parties in San Francisco, San Jose, Clovis, and Los Angeles. Watch our social media for dates and party registration links coming soon. 

On August 2, Erika Mendoza took a break from her camps and recreation duties to join AARBF volunteers Hydra and Redvine at the Hell of a Half Marathon. Erika and Hydra manned an information booth where they were able to meet participants and connect with local burn survivors. They were super excited to meet up with Redvine as she crossed the finish line. The Hell of a Half Marathon is an annual tradition, and we were happy to be able to spend the day with these dedicated runners. We are very thankful to receive a portion of the event proceeds to support our youngest burn survivors through Champ Camp.

On August 15th, AARBF’s Katrina Arthur had a wonderful night at Goldenrod Elementary in Kerman. Students, Fresno County Sheriffs, and Andy the Armadillo from Texas Roadhouse showed off their Stop, Drop, & Roll skills at the 2025 Kerman National Night Out. AARBF is proud to support our local communities and to share our fire and burn prevention education programs with students and their families. 

Past and present Champ Camp counselors got together to reminisce about their camp experiences on August 16th at Colonel’s home in Morgan Hill. 

The weather was perfect in the low to mid 80’s and no wind.  Amazingly everyone remembered to put on sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids (not all of it water).  The food brought by everyone was outstanding the desserts varied and tasty, and the hot dogs and hamburgers were filling with a variety of salads to add to your plate.  After dinner we sat around the campfire and told of our meaningful memories. Some pretty funny and all of them about how their participation changed other’s lives and in so doing changed their lives. 

The most important part of the day was seeing everyone, hearing about what’s up in their lives, and making new memories with our Champ Camp/AARBF Family.

Join us for the next What Now Workshop where Emily Naughton will share tips to help you manage and reduce stress. 

Our monthly virtual workshops are open to everyone; you do not need to be a burn survivor to attend. Take advantage of this session by registering today at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2-R4RrRVQdOqyPDK2zwGHQ#/registration

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, September 18th, at 7:00pm.

Would you like to be a part of shaping future programming with AARBF? We are looking for family members, friends, and other caregivers of burn survivors to complete a short survey. This survey will help us to better understand your needs as caregivers and how we can support those needs through new or enhanced programming.

Take our survey today at: https://tinyurl.com/yfvxjx5b

For questions, please contact us at info@aarbf.org.

Why wait until the last minute when you can secure your tickets for this year’s 15th Annual Dinner & Dance in Clovis today.

Your ticket price includes a great meal, opportunity to outbid your neighbor for a tasty dessert, access to our silent and live auctions, games and prizes, and more! All attendees will receive a commemorative glass in honor of our 15th year of making memories in Clovis.

You’ll have the chance to bid on great silent auction items like ticket packages to the Fresno Grizzlies, a Family Pack of tickets to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and a night out at the movies.

Visit our event page at https://givebutter.com/c/2025AARBFDinnerDance to learn more.

If you would like to donate to our silent or live auction, please contact Katrina at karthur@aarbf.org.

We are super excited about the 1st Annual Beers for Burns Fundraiser.  A special thank you to our AARBF volunteers and community members who are hosting this event at the Ratio Beerworks in Denver on October 25th. The night will include Live Music, Hourly Raffles, Food Trucks, and a Silent Auction. All proceeds from the event will support sending youth burn survivors to Champ Camp.

When: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Where: Ratio Brewery, 2030 S Cherokee St., Denver, CO 80223
Doors open: Noon – 6 pm  

If you plan to be in the Denver, CO area, please visit www.givebutter.com/BfB-Denver to get tickets. Or you can support this event by making your tax-deductible donation today.

The Friends of AARBF is a quasi Alumni Association for past and present volunteers, camp counselors, staff, prevention partners, fundraising partners, survivors and their families, everyone who has been a super stakeholder for AARBF along the way these past 54 years.

We plan on this launching as a social group to get reconnected as much as anything else at the start, and we hope to grow it into something grander, maybe helping in fundraising to keep the foundation’s work going strong, maybe even become our own auxiliary 501(c)3 non-profit in the future!  While there will be social, volunteer, and donor opportunities, there is no commitment until something strikes your fancy and you feel like participating!

If you have already joined, thank you. Please help us reach more people by sharing this message with your AARBF friends.

If you are interested in joining us, please provide your contact information here: https://forms.gle/AMQrDVo4NcSmZU6i8

For questions about the association, please reach out to Mike “Otter” at 650-515-6142 or otter.mouser@pacbell.net.

Get your tickets for this year’s Dinner & Dance in Clovis. This annual event is celebrating 15 years. Come on out and see old friends and make new ones. Your ticket price includes a great meal, opportunity to outbid your neighbor for a tasty dessert, access to our silent and live auctions, games and prizes, and more!

Silent auction item include ticket packages to the Fresno Grizzlies, a Family pack of tickets to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and a night out at the movies. Follow us on social media @AARBF to catch more sneak peaks.

Purchase your event ticket, a table for friends and family, or become an event sponsor. All attendees will receive a commemorative glass in honor of our 15th year of making memories in Clovis.

Visit our event page at https://givebutter.com/c/2025AARBFDinnerDance to learn more.

If you would like to donate to our silent or live auction, please contact Katrina at karthur@aarbf.org.

On Sunday July 13th, Torrance Memorial invited AARBF’s Martha Banks to their First Responder Brunch in which Hospital staff, local firefighters and police officers had the opportunity to be recognized with an amazing lunch. We appreciate the partnership we share with Torrance Memorial and loved attending in support of such a wonderful acknowledgement of our first responders. Thank You Dr. Matthew Reiss, and the burn unit staff for putting this wonderful event together.

Did you know, we offer a free book to help teach your child learn how to P.R.E.P.A.R.E. for a wildfire? “The Johnsons P.R.E.P.A.R.E. for a Wildfire” is a great resource, written by former AARBF Executive Director, Jennifer Radics-Johnson, that takes your child through the steps found in our Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E. guide. Discussing wildfire preparedness with your child will help them to better understand what to do during a wildfire emergency. Click here to download a free copy of this book, as well as, the other books in the Meet the Johnsons series.

And if you reside in and near the communities of Coalinga, Shaver Lake, and Piedra watch for upcoming opportunities where you can pick up a free printed copy of The Johnsons P.R.E.P.A.R.E. for a Wildfire book. If you’d like to be on our contact list for this opportunity, please email Katrina Arthur at karthur@aarbf.org.

We are still smiling from our annual Outdoor Trip, July 25-27. We fished, kayaked, paddle boarded, rock climbed, got caught in a surprise hailstorm, ate so many snacks and great food, and spent time laughing and making memories we will always cherish.

A huge thank you to everyone who made this weekend possible, from those who gave us a place to stay, kept us well-fed, and brought all the fun activities to us. Thank you to our campers for choosing to spend a weekend in the mountains with their camp family.

A special shoutout to Dash, who has led this event for 14 amazing years. Your love, dedication, and leadership have made this weekend so special year after year to where it became known as “Dash Camp”.  This was Dash’s last Outdoor Trip and he will be greatly missed.

We also acknowledge and thank our incredible counselors, this trip simply would not happen without you: Buc, Skipper, Shred, Pinecone, Mee Mee, Scooby, Chop Suey, Jett, Gidget, Fuzzy, Mougly, Grizzie, Viper, Ricky Rescue, Alpine, Mouser, Otter, Cedar, Yukon, and Jack Rabbit. You bring the magic, energy, and heart to everything we do!

Would you like to be a part of shaping future programming with AARBF? We are looking for family members, friends, and other caregivers of burn survivors to complete a short survey. This survey will help us to better understand your needs as caregivers and how we can support those needs through new or enhanced programming.

Click here to take our survey today.

For questions, please contact us at info@aarbf.org.

The Friends of AARBF is a quasi Alumni Association for past and present volunteers, camp counselors, staff, prevention partners, fundraising partners, survivors and their families, everyone who has been a super stakeholder for AARBF along the way these past 54 years.

We plan on this launching as a social group to get reconnected as much as anything else at the start, and we hope to grow it into something grander, maybe helping in fundraising to keep the foundation’s work going strong, maybe even become our own auxiliary 501(c)3 non-profit in the future!  While there will be social, volunteer, and donor opportunities, there is no commitment until something strikes your fancy and you feel like participating!

If you have already joined, thank you. Please help us reach more people by sharing this message with your AARBF friends.

If you are interested in joining us, please provide your contact information here: https://forms.gle/AMQrDVo4NcSmZU6i8

For questions about the association, please reach out to Mike “Otter” at 650-515-6142 or otter.mouser@pacbell.net.

Champ Camp celebrated its 40th year from June 7-14,2025. This year’s theme was “Level Up” where we unlocked so many new memories, goals and adventures. It was another unforgettable week where burn survivors came together to laugh, play, heal, and connect.

This year, we welcomed 94 incredible campers, including our amazing counselors-in-training, and the energy, courage, and love they brought was unmatched. From high-flying ropes courses and splashing in the lake, to racing go-karts, riding mini bikes, horseback riding, creating art and playing games, every single day was packed with many adventures and memories. Our senior campers leveled up at out-camp, where they jet skied, wake boarded, tubed, and slept under the stars. We sang loud, hugged often, and celebrated being survivors, and one big Champ Camp family. But do not just take our word for it, here is what our campers had to say:

“I think Champ Camp is great because it makes you feel comfortable in your own skin. Knowing everyone went through something that got them here, and it is okay to be different.” -Mia K.

“Champ Camp shows us that having some scars or whatever doesn’t make us weird. We are still normal and we’re not alone. There are other people out there that are the same.” -Jesus V.

“Almost everyone here, me included, say that camp is the highlight of their year, and something we always look forward to. I think the sense of community and belonging someplace is really special for everyone especially those who don’t receive enough support at home. For this reason, we cannot thank you enough for donating to fund sending kids to Champ Camp.” -Elena J.

“The best part of Champ Camp is trying new things, the people, and how everyone is so uplifting, and encouraging everyone to try new things. Not only that but I love meeting other burn survivors, knowing I’m not alone.” – Gemma G.

“I think Champ Camp is important for burn survivors like me because it lets people like us be content, a home away from home, where you meet old friends and have time to connect with new people.”
– Dylan I.

To every camper, CIT, counselor, volunteer, donor and staff member: thank you for making this week a memorable experience. You are the heart and soul of Champ Camp.

For the third year running, the Champ Camp Amazon wish list was completely fulfilled by generous donors. The wish list includes items for arts and crafts, water play, and unit activities. By assisting with direct purchase of these items, you help to extend our financial resources towards larger camp-wide activities such as the seniors out-camp, archery, horseback riding, riding mini bikes, and so much more. Thank you for supporting camp through your wish list purchase.

A favorite Champ Camp tradition is the annual Chili Cook-off. The kids have a great time tasting the chilis and voting for their favorites. This year, Fresno Firefighters retained their title for the second year as the Best Chili. Kings County Fire defended their Best Decorated Booth title, making this the third year in a row. Congratulations to both of our winning teams.

The Chili Cook-off is a highly anticipated event and we appreciate all the work you do to spend the day with us in Wonder Valley. This year’s teams included: Fresno Fire Local 202, Clovis Fire Department, CALFIRE Fresno + Kings, Kingsburg Fire Department, Dinuba Fire Department, Clovis Peace Officers Association, CRMC- Burn Unit, Central Valley FF Credit Union, Friends of Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation Alumni Association, Kings County Fire Department, and Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation.  

The annual Champy-On online fundraiser raised $30,000, which is the equivalent of sending 30 kids to Champ Camp. This year, individuals and teams were able to participate in weekly challenges and earn a discount to the Champ Camp store. Donations of $40 or more were entered into a raffle to win a PlayStation 4 and an Electric Scooter. Two winners were drawn by campers during the Chili Cook-Off and VIP Day. Congratulations to JoAnn Grant and Paul Hanson.

Thank you to our Champy-On Teams and Individuals: AARBF Board and Council, Champ Camp Seniors, Friends of Alisa Ann – Alumni Association, Chop Suey, Feruzi Mwero, Camp Director, Curtis Harper, and Erika Mendoza.

We are thankful for our wonderful partners and sponsors who work all year round to support the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and our survivors by raising funds to help send campers to Champ Camp or sponsor memories like a new backpack or a fun activity during the week. This year we would like to thank Signature Aviation, Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union, Angel Flight, Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation, Wind and Fire Motorcycle Club, and the Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation. Your support and partnerships are greatly appreciated.

Tickets are now available for AARBF’s 15th Annual Dinner & Dance in Clovis on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Visit our event page at https://givebutter.com/c/2025AARBFDinnerDance for details. Sponsorships are also available.

If you would like to donate to our silent or live auction, please contact Katrina at karthur@aarbf.org.

We invite you to join us for another All Champ Camp Counselor Reunion.

Date:  Saturday August 16, 2025
Time:   2pm-8pm
Location:  Mike “Colonel” Sanders House at 13595 Sycamore Dr. Morgan Hill CA 95037//408-892-0902         
Cost:  $20 per person, spouses and kids are invited – BY 8/5 to Beanie via VENMO@Sandra-Smith-72 or Zelle 650-438-9173
Food: Hamburgers and hot dogs, water and some soft drinks will be provided.

If you plan on attending, please bring some other kinds of food to share with the group.  (Your choice- appetizer, casserole, salad, dessert, or anything else you might want to share with the group).

Theme: “40 Years!” (Sticking with this year’s camp theme and another reason to celebrate each & every one of you!)

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.

(Colonel has about 8 acres of flat ground if you wish to bring a trailer, motorhome or whatever you want to sleep in. He does not have power, water or dumping facilities.)

 We are in need of several volunteers for this event.  If you would like to help, let us know.

  *  Set Up tables and chairs (Saturday noon)

  *  1-2 Volunteers to BBQ

  *  Sign in with name tags

  *  Clean up

  *  Donations of plates, forks, napkins, ice, condiments

  *   Activity Games Coordinator

RSVP BY August 5th along with your current contact phone and email info.

Questions?  Contact Colonel 408-892-0902, 2c60ms@gmail.com or Beanie 650-438-9173, SandraEZsmith@gmail.com

If you have contact with any past counselors, please feel free to pass this information to us.

Mark your calendar – our friends with Alameda City Fire are hosting their annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, July 27th at Alameda Fire Station #1. We hope to see you there.

Looking for a new challenge? Check out the Hell of a Half Marathon. Held in Exeter in the middle of summer – what more can you ask for? Register today at www.hellofahalf.com.

On Sunday May 4th, over 1,000 runners including teams from 14 fire departments ran in the Fresno Urban Run. Amongst the teams the FCC Fire Academy Class 63, COS Fire Academy Class 21-43 and Scott “Pointdexter” Mellon ran to raise funds for Champ Camp 2025. Class 63 were our top fundraisers, helping to send 11 youth burn survivors to camp. This yearly Fresno tradition is a great way for AARBF to share our mission, and we are thankful to all the donors, organizers and runners who brave the stadium, parking garage and the 10-story climb to the top of the Grand. In 2025 you all help raise $19,488, thank you!

We are beyond grateful to John Patterson and Red Pointe Roofing for making this year’s 43rd Annual SoCal Golf Tournament a tremendous success. The May 6th event raised $40,556—a milestone that will help send young burn survivors to camp, giving them a summer of healing, fun, and friendship.

To every participant, donor, and supporter who contributed—you made this possible! Your generosity and kindness are changing lives, and we could not appreciate you more.

On Friday, May 9th, we had the pleasure of spending time with Cinthia Arroyo, Instructor at the Professional Institute of Beauty (PIB) for a special session designed exclusively for burn survivors.

PIB created a space for SoCal burn survivors to learn makeup tricks to enhance burn survivors’ beauty and restore confidence. We greatly appreciate Cinthia Arroyo, Instructor, and Maria Quinones, Director and President at PIB, for opening their doors to us. We also send a warm thank you to the team of students for providing their expertise for a much-appreciated day of beauty for our women burn survivors.

On May 9th – 11th, we had the pleasure of welcoming 13 incredible individuals to Wonder Valley Ranch for Champ Camp’s New Counselor Training 2025. Together, we delved into the heart of our mission, exploring the camp’s history, understanding the diverse age groups we serve, and learning how to be truly present for our campers in a safe and supportive environment. We also had a blast with camp songs, skits, and a ton of team-building activities.

This group showcased exceptional communication and teamwork, tackling each task with enthusiasm and joy. Their energy and joy were contagious.

We would especially like to thank the volunteers that dedicated time to be a part of New Counselor Training: Batty, Happy Feet, Newy, Gingy, Heckle, Pike, Mougly, Glow, Tater Tot, Gazoo, Skeeter, Loosehead and Crunch!

On Friday, May 9th, AARBF’s Katrina Arthur was joined by Bakersfield area survivors, Aiden, Samantha, and Dulce, for the Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation’s Lite Up the Nite dinner. AARBF and the Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation have a shared commitment to building a strong community of burn survivors and this event celebrates and highlights their efforts within the burn community of Bakersfield and beyond! It was a wonderful evening for dinner, dancing, and celebration. We were delighted to be a part of such a fantastic evening and look forward to continuing to partner with Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation for Champ Camp and the Chili Cook-off.

In the first Annual Fresno Fire vs Police Fresno Fit Fest Soccer match hosted by Fresno City Councilman Nick Richardson, AARBF was chosen by Fresno Fire as its charity. With a stunning 4-0 win by Fresno Fire, the City of Fresno donated $1,000 to the foundation. AARBFs Katrina was there to cheer our fire department partners on and received the check from the District 6 Councilman.

We invite you to join us for another All Champ Camp Counselor Reunion.

Date:  Saturday August 16, 2025
Time:   2pm-8pm
Location:  Mike “Colonel” Sanders House at 13595 Sycamore Dr. Morgan Hill CA 95037//408-892-0902         
Cost:  $20 per person, spouses and kids are invited – BY 8/5 to Beanie via VENMO@Sandra-Smith-72 or Zelle 650-438-9173
Food: Hamburgers and hot dogs, water and some soft drinks will be provided.

If you plan on attending, please bring some other kinds of food to share with the group.  (Your choice- appetizer, casserole, salad, dessert, or anything else you might want to share with the group).

Theme: “40 Years!” (Sticking with this year’s camp theme and another reason to celebrate each & every one of you!)

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.

(Colonel has about 8 acres of flat ground if you wish to bring a trailer, motorhome or whatever you want to sleep in. He does not have power, water or dumping facilities.)

 We are in need of several volunteers for this event.  If you would like to help, let us know.

  *  Set Up tables and chairs (Saturday noon)

  *  1-2 Volunteers to BBQ

  *  Sign in with name tags

  *  Clean up

  *  Donations of plates, forks, napkins, ice, condiments

  *   Activity Games Coordinator

RSVP BY August 5th along with your current contact phone and email info.

Questions?  Contact Colonel 408-892-0902, 2c60ms@gmail.com or Beanie 650-438-9173, SandraEZsmith@gmail.com

If you have contact with any past counselors, please feel free to pass this information to us.

The Woody and Louise Reed Bridge to Life Scholarship deadline has been extended to June 20th.

Don’t miss out on taking advantage of 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.

Apply before Friday, June 20th at: https://forms.gle/pjkdLejUMfefvXsbA

For questions, please contact us at info@aarbf.org.

Mark your calendars for the night of dancing, dining and auction fun. The 15th Annual AARBF Dinner & Dance fundraiser will be held on November 22nd at the Clovis Rodeo Ground in Clovis, CA. Follow our social media accounts for ticket information and to get a sneak preview of the amazing auction items.

If you would like to donate to the silent or live auction, please contact Katrina at karthur@aarbf.org.

On April 15th, the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation celebrated our 54th Anniversary by kicking on the annual Champy-On fundraiser. This year’s campaign is extra special as it honors the 40th year of Champ Camp. 

We invite you to join Champy-On. You can create a team, join an existing team, or make a one-time donation to support the campaign.

We have a special bonus for Team Leaders – Create a team and gain 5 unique donors (one can be you!) and you’ll earn an exclusive Discount Code (a $15 value) to the Champ Camp Store (Must be completed before May 16, 2025 – see link below).  

We will have 5 weekly challenges with winners announced each Friday in May. Complete the challenge and you’ll be entered to win AARBF swag!

Donors will also have a chance to win. Each donation of $40 = 1 ticket, entering you in a raffle to be drawn at the Champ Camp Chili Cook-Off for an amazing prize. (Earn more tickets at each $40 increment, ie, $80 = 2 tickets, $120 = 3 tickets.) You do not need to be present to win. 

And don’t forget – all donations of $100 or more will receive our exclusive Sticker of the Month. You have the chance to collect stickers for May and June. 

Visit the Champy-On page at https://givebutter.com/ChampyOn2025. We appreciate your support.  

For questions, please contact Katrina Arthur at 818-848-0223 Ext. 110 or karthur@aarbf.org.

AARBF joined an amazing community event on April 12th, the fourth annual County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LACoFD) SIRENS OF SILENCE event, “Special Day with First Responders.” We spent the day with many other organizations dedicated to autism and special needs awareness and acceptance. This event was a time for families to engage with first responders in a sensory-friendly environment. AARBF’s Martha Banks was delighted to share our N.I.C.K. for Fire and Burn Safety program and other prevention materials and programming available. Click here to learn more about prevention through AARBF.

Fulfilling the mission of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation is only possible through the help of our fabulous and dedicated volunteers. Each April, during Volunteer Appreciation Week, we highlight seven areas of impact and honor those who have helped further AARBF’s mission over the past year.

Burn Prevention Education: Coalinga Fire Department

The Coalinga Fire Department joined AARBF in 2023 as a partner in the 1st Annual Central Valley Holiday Toy Drive. Over the past two years, they have continued to support and partner with the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation in local events and programs. Their commitment to the mission of prevention education alongside AARBF is highlighted in their participation through a CAL FIRE grant aimed at educating children and families on AARBF’s Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E. guide and resources. Through this partnership, we look to increase awareness and preparedness in communities affected by the lengthening wildfire season. The members of the Coalinga Fire Department have partnered with AARBF to develop a pilot program for the distribution of the Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E. materials to the residents of Coalinga, acting as a model for future prevention education programs throughout the state.  The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation is proud to acknowledge the continued work of the Coalinga Fire Department as they serve the citizens of their city and the wider burn community.   

Survivor Services: Eunice Villa-Lopez

Eunice is a burn survivor who has been actively involved and volunteering with AARBF for more than 25 years. 

When Eunice was 4 years old, she tried to reach for a cup at a top cabinet over the stove. Since one of the burners was on, her dress caught on fire, leaving her with third-degree burns over 60% of her body. Even though it was difficult to live with her burns at such a young age, Eunice received a lot of love and support from her family and loved ones. Eunice received treatment at Shriners Hospital for Children, Galveston, at the beginning of her treatment, and she was transferred later on to Shriners Hospital, Los Angeles, where she was treated until her 18th birthday. Eunice has been involved with our foundation since she was 12 years old, and she became a volunteer after attending Champ Camp. Eunice shared that through all the activities, support groups, and camps, she “not only felt supported but seen.”

At AARBF, she was able to meet other burn survivors with whom she was able to relate and also form lifelong friendships. Eunice attended Champ Camp and became a CIT. Later on she got married and gave birth to three amazing children that, along with her, became volunteers and have been helping at different events. For several years, Eunice has created the centerpieces and decorated our Southern California Christmas party. She participates in and has facilitated support groups, peer support, hospital support, family camp support groups, and many other events. Eunice shared, “Being part of AARBF has helped me not only in my journey as a burn survivor, but it has also been a place where I can go to for support. It is a place where I am surrounded by friends that already became family. I am grateful for AARBF and for being part of this great organization for so many years.”

Fundraising: Wind and Fire Motorcycle Club

For over 30 years, the Wind and Fire Motorcycle Club has been a symbol of unity and community service. This year marks their 31st anniversary of supporting Champ Camp, with Javier Lara and his partner Mary leading Chapter 44 in the Fresno area. Javier joined the club in 2000 and quickly became a dedicated leader, continuing the club’s mission to support the community, especially children in need. Javier’s involvement in the club goes beyond the love of riding. Under the guidance of club founder Bill Cadam, who brought the club into burn camp, Javier discovered a deeper purpose. Bill’s vision of connecting firefighters with burn survivors has had a lasting impact, and for Javier and Mary’s first experience at burn camp, it was transformative. “It changed my view. It’s one of those things that stays with you,” they shared. 

For Javier and the club, burn camp is more than just charity work—it is part of their journey as firefighters. “Giving back is never done. It’s a servant’s heart that keeps giving,” says Javier. The emotional bond with the kids and counselors at burn camp has a profound effect, leaving everyone involved forever changed. Javier emphasizes, “A lot of things come and go, but the dedication to the kids is unwavered!” The club’s commitment to supporting children through burn camp is constant and meaningful, showing that the true heart of Wind and Fire is its service to the community. 

As Chapter 44 celebrates its 31st year of supporting Champ Camp, Wind and Fire’s legacy of service continues to grow, showing that their work extends far beyond the motorcycle rides—it is about making a real difference in the lives of children and the community.  

Executive: Susan Catalano

Susan Catalano joined the AARBF Council of Advisors in 2023. Through this role, she learned of the foundation’s need to develop a new website. Susan also learned that our systems were not connected resulting in additional work from staff. So, in 2024, Susan took on what became an enormous project.

Susan’s professional career spans both Biotech and High Tech with executive roles at Sony, Beckton Dickenson, and Netscape Communications. Across all of her roles, she led large global teams responsible for communications and e-business. She has won awards for leadership, communications and international business. Susan parlayed connections she had made throughout her career to put together a team to execute the vision of linking our website to our Salesforce database and QuickBooks.

Susan guided every step of the website redesign, conducting several meetings each week with both the development team and AARBF staff. The project went beyond simply updating and modernizing the graphics. The vision was complex, modernize the look and feel to include better viewing on hand-held devices, create additional ways for users to contact us and deliver that information directly into our database, enhance the donor experience by creating a more user-friendly form with both credit card and digital payment options, and ultimately organize the content to tell our story.

When notified of her award, Susan said, “I love storytelling. AARBF is such an amazing organization, so an honor to get the opportunity to tell the organization’s story. The people who work there are so dedicated to helping the burn survivors and families that they help. So many in California have benefited from their guidance and love. Their services and prevention efforts are to be lauded.” 

People’s Choice: Marissa “Hydra” McCallough

In 2010, Hydra’s journey with AARBF’s Champ Camp began unexpectedly when she took a lifeguard job, thinking it was just another summer gig. Little did she know this experience would change her life. 

It was the first time Hydra had ever met a burn survivor, felt a graft site, or even been to a summer camp, so it was all completely new to her. She was amazed by the resiliency of the campers and the palpable love throughout the camp. She knew she had found something special. Champ Camp inspired her to train in the Burn Unit, become a burn nurse, and continues to shape her as both a nurse and person. AARBF and Champ Camp changed her life 15 years ago, and her passion for the burn community continues to grow. 

That first summer sparked a lifelong commitment to supporting burn survivors. The strength of the campers inspired Hydra to pursue a career in burn care. She later returned in 2018 as a counselor and dove back into the AARBF community with dedication. Over the years, Hydra’s role has evolved from lifeguard to counselor, from volunteer to advocate, always going above and beyond to support burn survivors. 

This year, Hydra is honored with the People’s Choice Award for her 7 years of volunteer work. Her deep commitment and positive impact on the burn community make this recognition well-deserved. 

Thank you, Hydra, for your unwavering dedication, compassion, and for making a lasting difference in the lives of so many. We are so grateful to have you as part of our AARBF/Champ Camp family. 

Champy-On: Rob “Jack Rabbit” Hecocks 

For over two decades, Rob “Jack Rabbit” has dedicated himself to the AARBF community, starting with the ski trip in 1998. After moving to Murphys and bonding with his Battalion Captain, “Colonel,” he began helping with the ski trip, which evolved into a decade of family involvement. He quickly connected with burn survivors, appreciating their resilience beyond their physical scars. 

Encouraged by fellow volunteers, Jack Rabbit joined Champ Camp in 2009, starting with the Rancheros, then moving to Wranglers, and eventually working with Seniors for 7-8 years. He took on a mentoring role for new staff and faced challenges with the unwavering support of his team.  

In 2020, Jack Rabbit became a unit leader, focusing on creating a supportive environment for campers and staff while sharing the same sense of community he experienced as a counselor. He values the deep connections formed at Champ Camp, which inspire him to return annually. 

Motivated by the joy of helping others, his wife, Mrs. Rabbit, supports both survivors and the camp’s smooth operation. Jack Rabbit is even considering joining the board after completing his school board duties.  

His journey with AARBF highlights the power of community and mentorship. We honor Jack Rabbit with the Champy-on award for his 16 years of dedication to Champ Camp. 

Ruch Family Circle:  Jenna “Sweet Pea” Graham

Sweet Pea started her career as a firefighter at Mountain View Fire Department in March 2000. Through years of hard work and commitment she steadily climbed the ranks and retired as Battalion Chief of Training and EMS for MVFD in the in 2024. While at MVFD Sweet Pea and some of her team members were inspired to start the Mountain View Firefighters Pancake Breakfast following a similar model to other successful events in the Bay Area. Despite a short pause due to COVID, the Mountain View Firefighters Pancake Breakfast has been going strong for nearly 20 years with the proceeds from that event going to AARBF in support of programs like Champ Camp and the Ski Trip both of which hold a special place in Sweet Pea’s heart.

Just before her career as a firefighter, Sweet Pea first learned about Champ Camp while attending paramedic school from colleagues there who had attended as counselors for young burn survivors. After discovering that many of her team at MVFD had also attended Champ Camp she knew she had to get involved. Sweet Pea spent a few years as a counselor as for both the Ranchero and Senior age group but ultimately landed as the Wrangler age group unit leader where she would continue to connect with and support adolescent burn survivors.

After getting more involved with the burn survivor community, Sweat Pea was able to be a part of some truly lifechanging opportunities. Sweet Pea was selected to take a Champ Camper to the International association of Fire Fighters camp in Washington DC, an incredibly valuable opportunity to connect burn survivors from all around the country. In 2010, Sweet Pea was able to obtain legal guardianship of the Vo sisters, a family of young burn survivors who attended Champ Camp every summer as campers. Now, the Vo sisters continue to inspire and support future young burn survivors as Champ Camp counselors and as prime examples of resilience in the face of adversity.

Sweet Pea has been keeping herself occupied doing what some of us could only dream of. Shredding the trails on her mountain bike and working hard to be an aerobatic pilot. That’s right, someday you might look up and see Sweet Pea up there hitting some crazy maneuvers! Best of all, Sweet Pea gets to continue spending time with her beautiful family as Grandma Jenna!

Sweet Pea, thank you so much for making such a positive impact on the lives of so many burn survivors, and for all that you have done for the foundation, you are loved and appreciated.

Champ Camp Store: For a limited time only, you can purchase AARBF’s Champ Camp merch. Visit our online store at http://www.archerandhound.com/champcamp to purchase your items today.

Want to get a $15 discount? Join the Champy-On Fundraiser before the store closes on May 16th. Create a team and gain 5 unique donors (one can be you!) to receive your exclusive Discount Code!

Calling All Cooks: The annual Champ Camp Chili Cook-Off will be held on Wednesday, June 11th, during Champ Camp in Wonder Valley. If you’d like to join the fun, please register using the link below. Our Camper will judge the recipes, so please plan your recipe accordingly.

To register, please visit: https://www.aarbf.org/champ-camp-chili-cook-off/

For more information, contact Katrina Arthur at karthur@aarbf.org. 

Registration Closing Soon: Champ Camp will be held at the Wonder Valley Resort in Sanger on June 7th – 14th. 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.

For questions, please contact Erika “Kika” Mendoza at emendoza@aarbf.org.

Support Our Arts & Crafts: Each year, our program staff creates a wish list of items needed for arts and crafts, as wells as water games and activities. To purchase an item from our Amazon wish list, please visit https://a.co/3El8l9z.

AARBF is grateful to the young men of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Fresno State for the success of their Philanthropy Week.  

Brothers of the Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) Fraternity at Fresno State brought back their Philanthropy Week in April of 2025 to benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. The week-long contest, ending with a Pickleball Tournament, was part of the philanthropic mission of the PIKE brothers to support and raise awareness for communities such as those served by AARBF. The PIKE fraternity donated $9,005 to AARBF. The Delta Zeta Sorority was recognized as the Overall Winners and the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority as the winners of the Pickleball Tournament.

AARBF is proud to partner with the next generation of philanthropists and leaders in the Central Valley. 

On April 30, 2025, after 25 years of service to the citizens of Menlo Park, California, Fire Marshal Jon Johnston celebrated with colleagues, friends, and family his retirement from the Menlo Park Fire District.  Jon has helped the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation as a representative at golf tournaments and also in helping the Board of Directors.  During his time with Menlo Park, Jon organized and directed the Menlo Park Pancake Breakfast, benefiting the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation.  Over the 25 years, the pancake breakfast has raised over $250,000 to help fund the important programs the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation provides.  The breakfast also includes a community outreach and fire prevention education opportunities.  When Jon spoke, he was typical Jon, when he reminded everyone that any success that he has accomplished has always been attributable to the team that surrounded him.

Jon will be moving to the East Coast and we wish him and his family well as they look forward to the next chapter in their lives.  Jon still looks forward to staying connected to the AARBF.  We want thank the Menlo Park Fire District for hiring Jon and supporting the AARBF and to wish Jon a hearty congratulations on a job well done professionally and for contributing and being such a meaningful part of the AARBF family. 

The Friends of AARBF is a quasi Alumni Association for past and present volunteers, camp counselors, staff, prevention partners, fundraising partners, survivors and their families, everyone who has been a super stakeholder for AARBF along the way these past 54 years.

We plan on this launching as a social group to get reconnected as much as anything else at the start, and we hope to grow it into something grander, maybe helping in fundraising to keep the foundation’s work going strong, maybe even become our own auxiliary 501(c)3 non-profit in the future!  While there will be social, volunteer, and donor opportunities, there is no commitment until something strikes your fancy and you feel like participating!

If you have already joined, thank you. Please help us reach more people by sharing this message with your AARBF friends.

If you are interested in joining us, please provide your contact information here: https://forms.gle/AMQrDVo4NcSmZU6i8

For questions about the association, please reach out to Mike “Otter” at 650-515-6142 or otter.mouser@pacbell.net.

Back by popular demand, please join us for another All Champ Camp Counselor Reunion.

Date:  Saturday August 16, 2025
Time:   2pm-8pm
Location:  Mike “Colonel” Sanders House at 13595 Sycamore Dr. Morgan Hill CA 95037//408-892-0902         
Cost:  $20 per person, spouses and kids are invited – BY 8/5 to Beanie via VENMO@Sandra-Smith-72 or Zelle 650-438-9173
Food: Hamburgers and hot dogs, water and some soft drinks will be provided.

If you plan on attending, please bring some other kinds of food to share with the group.  (Your choice- appetizer, casserole, salad, dessert, or anything else you might want to share with the group).

Theme: “40 Years!” (Sticking with this year’s camp theme and another reason to celebrate each & every one of you!)

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.

(Colonel has about 8 acres of flat ground if you wish to bring a trailer, motorhome or whatever you want to sleep in. He does not have power, water or dumping facilities.)

 We are in need of several volunteers for this event.  If you would like to help, let us know.

  *  Set Up tables and chairs (Saturday noon)

  *  1-2 Volunteers to BBQ

  *  Sign in with name tags

  *  Clean up

  *  Donations of plates, forks, napkins, ice, condiments

  *   Activity Games Coordinator

RSVP BY August 5th along with your current contact phone and email info.

Questions?  Contact Colonel 408-892-0902, 2c60ms@gmail.com or Beanie 650-438-9173, SandraEZsmith@gmail.com

If you have contact with any past counselors, please feel free to pass this information to us.

Time is running out to apply 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 a community college, college, university, or trade school, and is open to all ages, going directly into or returning to education.

Apply today at: https://forms.gle/pjkdLejUMfefvXsbA

For questions, please contact us at info@aarbf.org.

On Saturday, March 8, 2025, Torrance Firefighters hosted their annual spaghetti dinner. It is so uplifting to see the Torrance community coming together to participate in this family-friendly event. We were delighted to have staff from the Torrance Memorial Burn Unit join us as we greeted and spoke with guests. We are thankful for the over 50 years of support we have received from the Torrance Firefighters and the Torrance Firefighters Women’s Association. The dinner as always was delicious and the bake sale items were scrumptious. If you get the chance, please give a huge thank you to the Torrance Firefighters for their continued support of our burn survivor programs and mission.

Our annual California Statewide Ski Trip 2025, took place March 7-9th. With 37 burn survivors and 19 counselors/staff, a total of 56 of us enjoyed an amazing snow-filled weekend at the Bear Valley ski resort!

Our group enjoyed a sunny day out on the slopes learning how to snowboard and ski. Later on in the day we also had the opportunity to enjoy snowmobiling in town. Thank you to our amazing CIT’s Fireball and Freebird for assisting our group for this weekend event. Another thank you to our survivors for being a part of this trip, we hope you had an amazing time. An extra thank you to our volunteers who drove our campers to and from and ensured their safety throughout the weekend; Jackrabbit, Hydra, Chop Suey, Kappa, Ricky Rescue, Cannonball, Lentil, Domino, Sinker, Princess, Buc, Pinecone, Skipper, Tokyo, Mee Mee, Rascal, Mougly, Alpine and Kika.

This trip would not have been possible without the amazing leadership of our very own Jack Rabbit and the support from Angel Flight West, Stockton Fire, Murphys Fire, Ebbetts Pass Fire, Arnold Angels, Bear Valley Mountain Resort, Bear Valley Snowmobiles, Bear Valley Public Safety, Gold Country Roasters, and Manteca Fire. Thank you all for making this weekend so special.

On March 19th, AARBF’s Erika “Kika” Mendoza and Michael “Buddy” Knopf had a wonderful opportunity to present information about burn camps alongside Joe Pick and Valorie Smart from the Fire Fighters Burn Institute (FFBI) at Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California. Our presentations aimed to provide the Shriner’s staff with valuable insights regarding burn camps. We want the staff to feel confident when referring their patients to the programs offered by both of our organizations.

There are many burn camps, retreats, and weekend events available for burn survivors, and the more awareness we create, the more survivors we can reach and support.

We are grateful to share a common mission: to provide a safe environment for burn survivors to try new activities and become part of a larger, united burn community that supports their recovery. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Shriners and continuing to grow our collaboration with the truly remarkable organization, FFBI.

On Wednesday, March 19th, the California Fire Chiefs Association hosted AARBF’s Katrina Arthur and volunteers Chop Suey and Hydra at their 28th Annual Training Symposium Dinner and Corn Hole Tournament. While at the event, our AARBF representatives shared the mission and work of the foundation as well as helped to raise a record breaking $7,000 for prevention education and sending youth burn survivors to Champ Camp. The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation gives a warm thank you to the Cal Fire Chiefs Association and the Fresno Fire Department for inviting us to the 2025 Fire Symposium and for their continued support. 

On March 22nd, we had a fantastic day on our Monterey Bay Aquarium Under 5 Trip, bringing together five burn survivors and their family members. The beautiful weather made it even more enjoyable spending time with the Monterey Fire Department, where the Monterey Firefighters Local 3707 and the Monterey Firefighter Foundation hosted our group and provided us with a delicious lunch.

Poppy, our wonderful Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), facilitated a supportive group for parents and caregivers while the kids played outside with volunteers. Afterward, we all headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where our families explored and learned about marine life, thanks to the Aquarium’s free-to-learn program. We so enjoyed having these wonderful families spend the day with us.

A trip such as this would not be possible without our amazing volunteers: Poppy, Daffodil, Lil Bear, Gidget, Kamikaze, Chipmunk, Mee Mee, Flaca, Karina, Matt, Cartier, and Alex. You made the day unforgettable for our survivors and their families.

Sunday, March 22nd, was the perfect day to enjoy the green grass, blue skies, and exciting activities at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort’s Family Day. For more than three decades, the Wonder Valley family has supported AARBF and been the home to Champ Camp. Over 700 people from across the central valley visited the Ranch to ride horses, climb the rock wall, canoe on the lake, and help raise $4,500 for Champ Camp’s 40th year.  Thank you to the Wonder Valley Ranch team for putting on a great event. We are looking forward to seeing you at Champ Camp in June.

From Thursday, March 27th, to Sunday, March 30th, we gathered in beautiful Oakhurst for a truly transformative Women’s Empowerment Weekend. It was an incredible weekend of strength, resilience, and empowerment.

This event was attended by fourteen amazing burn survivor women and led by six dedicated staff and volunteers, all coming together to inspire, heal, and uplift one another. We are deeply thankful to our leads—Cindy, Wendy, Dr. Ruth, Jill, Hydra, and Kika—for creating such amazing and powerful workshops for us to share together. Your passion and commitment made this experience unforgettable. A special thank you to our Facilitators in Training, Skittles and Quincy, for dedicating your time and stepping up to take on more leadership roles in this event. Your dedication and growth are truly inspiring.

Throughout the weekend, we had the privilege of engaging in powerful workshops like Masquerading Through Life, Body Image, Mirror Work, Dancing, and so much more! These sessions allowed us to reflect, grow, and embrace the beauty of our journeys.

We are grateful for this unforgettable experience and for every woman who shared her strength with us.

The annual Champy-On fundraiser kicks off on AARBF’s anniversary, April 15th. Our goal for this year is $40,000 in honor of the 40th year of Champ Camp. We would love for you to join in the fun by building or supporting a team.

Create your online team today so you can be ready for the campaign’s launch on April 15th. Starting on the 15th and through June 6th, encourage your friends, family, colleagues, community, camp counselors, medical professionals, new counselor training class, and firefighters to participate and donate to your team through the online portal at https://givebutter.com/ChampyOn2025.

Whether you create a team or donate, you are not only helping youth burn survivors but are entering for a chance to win.

Team leads – there are 2 opportunities for you: 

1. Create a team and gain 5 unique donors (one can be you!). This earns you an exclusive Discount Code to the Champ Camp Store.  
2. We will have 5 weekly challenges, with a winner announced every Friday in May (5 Fridays). The winner will receive an AARBF swag item.  

Donors – we have not forgotten you:  

1. Each donation of $40 = 1 ticket, entering you in a raffle to be drawn at the Champ Camp Chili Cook-Off for an amazing prize (You do not need to be present to win).
   • Earn more tickets at each $40 increment, ie, $80 = 2 tickets, $120 = 3 tickets 
2. All donations of $100 or more will receive our exclusive Sticker of the Month. You have the chance to collect stickers for April, May, and June. 

For questions, please contact Katrina Arthur at 818-848-0223 Ext. 110 or karthur@aarbf.org.

Spring is a great time to think about landscaping. Did you know there are fire-resistant plants? Plants like manzanita, coast live oak, California buckwheat, lemonade berry, agave, yucca, and coral bells are known for their drought tolerance, moisture retention, and ability to withstand fire. 

To find fire-resistant plants that are perfect for your area, check with local nurseries, landscape contractors, or your county’s UC Cooperative Extension service.

To learn more tips about preparing your property and home against fires, check out the Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E. guide on our website at www.aarbf.org/wildfirepreparedness.

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month and as burn survivors, some may face different and unique challenges such as physical pain, emotional trauma and social isolation. Burn injuries may result in chronic pain that often requires pain management.  Some burn survivors may self-medicate developing dependencies on pain medication or turn to alcohol as a way of “managing” or escaping from the discomfort.

If we add the psychological impact of a burn injury and the possible emotional challenges of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and body image, the overwhelmed emotions may lead burn survivors to misuse substances as a coping mechanism. Isolation is another challenge that survivors face; it is hard to reintegrate into society and feel accepted for some of them, and that is why isolation and loneliness are high risk of substance abuse.

Burn survivors can address these challenges by using a combination of preventing strategies, identifying risk factor, having strong family connections, openly communicate about substance abuse and by connecting with individuals and mentors that can provide guidance. Let us not forget about comprehensive pain management, peer support, support groups, therapy services and our What Now Workshop that will focus on Substance Abuse this month. Join us on April 17, 2025 at 7:00pm Pacific time. For more information, please reach out to Martha Banks at mbanks@aarbf.org.

Our Fresno Urban Run fundraising teams have a hefty goal this year and need your help. Hanford Fire Department (Scott Mellon), Fresno City College Fire Academy, Class of 63, and the College of the Sequoias Fire Academy Class 21-43 are all competing to see who the top fundraiser in 2025 will be.

In addition to their fundraising efforts, team members will also be participating in the Fresno Urban Run on Sunday, May 4th. You can join them on the Run-day by registering for the event at: https://www.adventuresignup.com/Race/CA/Fresno/FresnoUrbanRun

If you would like to help your favorite team reach their fundraising goal, hop on over to the fundraising page at: https://givebutter.com/FresnoUrbanRun2025

Did you hear the news? The 43rd annual SoCal Golf Tournament will be held earlier this year on Tuesday, May 6th. This annual event is once again hosted by our friends at Red Pointe Roofing. 

Date: May 6
Location: Black Gold Country Club, Yorba Linda, CA
Check-in Begins: 9:30am
Shot Gun Start: 11:00am

Individual Golfer and Team tickets on sale now at: https://myevent.com/aarbfgolf

We look forward to seeing you there!

Applications are open through May 31, 2025 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 PhD, use the same application for the Aiming Higher Scholarship, funded through Care Plans for Life, to supplement your school cost and pave the way to your bright future.

Apply today at: https://forms.gle/pjkdLejUMfefvXsbA

For questions, please contact us at info@aarbf.org.

The AARBF website has been completely redesigned with you in mind!

What’s Changed?

Friendly Layout – Cleaner design for both computer and mobile devices

Simplified Navigation – Quickly find content with the improved menu and content headers

Enhanced Donation Portal – Offering both credit card and digital payment options with tax receipts provided instantly through email

Improved Events Calendar – Easily find upcoming events right from the home page

Increased Connection – Connect with AARBF on services most important to you by utilizing the contact forms available throughout the site

Click here to visit our home page to check out our new look today.

AARBF’s Daniel Chacon and Michael Knopf kicked off the month of February by attending the Santa Clara Crab Feed on the 1st. We were excited to see the return of this event which was held at the Great America Pavilion in Santa Clara. There were over 250 people in attendance, enjoying terrific food and having the opportunity to learn about AARBF.

Thank You to Santa Clara City Firefighters Foundation for supporting AARBF and to Elizabeth “Tum Tum” Harkins for spending some time with us. This year’s event raised $10,000 for AARBF.   

The first full week of February is National Burn Awareness Week (NBAW). NBAW was created by our friends at the American Burn Association, as 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 week’s theme is “Burn Prevention Where You Live, Work, and Play – Preventing Burns in the Homes.” We shared tips on our social media throughout the week to show ways to prevent burn injuries to keep you and your family safe. 

On Wednesday, February 5th, AARBF partnered with nine fire departments, the Fresno Fire Chiefs Foundation, the CRMC Burn unit, and the Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union for the 10th Annual Central Valley Firefighters Burn Relay. The relay traveled across the valley starting in Madera headed to Clovis, Sanger, and down into Kingsburg before heading to the Fresno County Fire Museum at the Fresno Fire Headquarters in downtown Fresno. AARBF is proud to partner with these Fire Departments who donated a total of $19,000 in support of AARBF and our burn survivor programs, such as Champ Camp. 

Thank you to CALFIRE MMU LOCAL 2881, CALFIRE FKU LOCAL 2881, Fresno Fire Local 202, Clovis Firefighters Local 1695, Sanger Firefighters Association, Selma Firefighters Association, Kingsburg Firefighters Association, Hanford Firefighters Association, Fresno Fire Chiefs Association, Coalinga Firefighters Association and a special thank you to the Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union for sponsoring the luncheon for all participating departments. 

On Thursday, February 6th, AARBFs Michael Knopf and Katrina Arthur joined CRMC Burn Unit Staff at their Burn Awareness Day on campus at Community Regional Medical Centers, Fresno. During the event, they shared burn prevention tips and educational materials with 209 visitors. Even Franco the therapy dog got in on the action, showing attendees how to Stop, Drop & Roll!  Thank you to the Burn Unit staff for inviting us to share the work and mission of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. 

The Young Adult Summit (YAS) was held in the stunning town of Cambria, CA, where we had the privilege of hosting twenty-five amazing young adults, February 14th – 17th. The weekend’s theme was “Light Your Own Way,” and our workshops focused on empowering our participants with valuable life skills. We covered topics like Travel 101, Communication Skills, Automotive Basics, Credit Essentials, and Public Speaking.

As a group, we enjoyed the beautiful weather, took in the sights of the Piedras Blancas Light Station, and toured the historic lighthouse and surrounding area. The group also connected with nature through oceanfront walks, building friendships while reflecting on the exciting next steps and changes in our lives.

A huge thank you to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance for making the journey to California and joining us for such a special weekend.

A special shoutout goes to our very own Buggy and her team for hosting the incredible Etiquette Dinner year after year.

Lastly, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to our passionate volunteers: Chief, Bubbles, Dash, Kamikaze, Butterbean, Tex, Zinger, Buc, Hydra, Monkey, Shakespeare, Buggy, Stretch, Blondie, Chris, and Kika.

In addition to the Young Adult Summit, we had another incredible group of survivors join us in Cambria for our annual Adult Retreat. Since the weekend coincided with Valentine’s Day, we centered the theme around the eight different types of Greek love. We had the privilege of hosting thirty adult burn survivors, creating an opportunity for connection and empowerment. The weekend featured powerful workshops, including speed conversations to enhance communication skills, exploring the various types of relationships we navigate, shadow work, vulnerability, setting boundaries, and addressing heartbreak, grief, and loss. The group also enjoyed a trip to the beach, soaking in the beautiful weather together. Thank you to everyone who was a part of this weekend, we are already looking forward to next year.

A huge thank you to the BC Professional Fire Fighter’s Burn Fund and the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance for making the journey to California and joining us for such a special weekend.

This weekend would not have been possible without the dedication of our incredible core volunteers: Cindy, Wendy, Jill, Lea, Kevin, and Daniel. Thank you for your time and passion for our burn community.

AARBF’s Katrina Arthur joined the staff, board and members of the Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union at the 90th Member’s Dinner on February 21st. Katrina was proud to introduce the work and mission of the foundation to the members and invited them to support us at the Silent Auction which topped off the evening of dining and celebration. Our growing partnership with the CVFireCU and the generosity of its members helped to raise $1,025 for burn survivors and AARBF.  

We want to share that our Executive Director, Daniel “Apollo” Chacon, ended his long tenure as an AARBF staff member at the end of February.  While stepping away from his role, he has assured us that we will continue to see him at programs and events and he will always be a well-loved member of our Foundation Family. 

We want to thank Daniel for his energy, loyalty, passion, and commitment to the Foundation. He worked his way up in his > 11 years as an employee and has worn many “hats”, often at the same time, as well as taken a wider leadership role across the national Burn Community. He has had a tremendous impact at every level of the Foundation and added many innovative new programs and services. He is well loved by our survivors, their families, staff, and volunteers and will be deeply missed. His strengths include deep relationships across our organization. As one camper stated, “He doesn’t just know me, he knows my whole family.” 

In his time at the Foundation, we have served more than 1,000 children at Champ Camp, educated 100’s of thousands of children through our FISE programs and continued to build our reputation throughout the State, National, and International Burn Community. Daniel showcased AARBF’s Champ Camp as the gold standard of burn camps while chairing the International Association of Burn Camps. He has highlighted the healing power of recreational programs for burn survivors through research presented at the American Burn Association. And Daniel used AARBF’s FEMA grant to work alongside other burn professionals across the country to spearhead the creation of the IMPAC Tool to encourage behavior changes that implement burn prevention education.  His silly side leaves a legacy as well, the “big fish, little fish” song he brought to campfire is a Champ Camp favorite and there is no one who can do it as well. 

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff please join us in wishing Daniel the best and in thanking him for his unwavering commitment to our success.  

Ps.  Watch for leadership announcements to come soon. 

January 8th-13th, Ducky and Hydra had the incredible opportunity to represent AARBF at the Thrive Retreat, hosted by the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. This event brought together young adults for workshops designed to equip them with valuable skills and insights to navigate young adulthood. In addition to the learning experiences, they enjoyed a range of fun winter activities, including attending a hockey game, snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, and more. We thank the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund for inviting us and creating such a memorable experience. Here is what Ducky and Hydra had to share:

“Being able to go to a different country was a blessing. I never would’ve thought I would be able to go to Canada. My favorite part would be meeting new people from a different country and experiencing my first hockey game as well as for snow tubing.” – Ducky

“The most magical thing about the burn community is that whether you’re in your hometown or in a completely new country, there are people who accept you wholeheartedly. And when that kind of love is present, it provides healing you didn’t know you needed. I’m so thankful for every single person I met at Thrive and for the experience of a lifetime.” – Hydra

January 18th-20th, our incredible Champ Camp program team came together on the beautiful Central Coast to kick off preparations for Champ Camp 2025. Under the guidance of our amazing camp co-directors Rocks and Willow, the weekend was filled with brainstorming and planning, all with one goal in mind; making camp the best part of our summer.

Rocks and Willow were joined by our dedicated program staff: Zinger, Dash, Chaos, Tex, Kamikaze, Kika, Apollo, Jack Rabbit, Shakespeare, Jersey, Spaz, Pookie, and Knuckles. These amazing individuals pour their time, energy, and passion into making camp not just fun, but safe and life-changing for everyone who takes part.

Watch our social media for announcements on this year’s theme and how you can help make the dream of attending camp a reality for burn survivor youth throughout California.

Last month, we introduced our sticker of the month for 2025. When you receive your stickers, please be sure to show it off on social media, tagging @aarbf, and use the hashtags #aarbf #shareyoursticker.

Reminder – you can earn your sticker by volunteering or donating $100 or more within the given month (one sticker per person). Each month will have an exclusive design, representing our appreciation, or highlighting one of our programs or services.

Applications are open now through May 31, 2025 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 PhD, use the same application for the Aiming Higher Scholarship, funded through Care Plans for Life, to supplement your school cost and pave the way to your bright future.

Apply today at: https://forms.gle/pjkdLejUMfefvXsbA

For questions, please contact us at info@aarbf.org.

Applications are now open for Champ Camp Counselors and CITs. This year’s camp will be held June 7th-14th (Counselors arrive Thursday, June 5th).

Apply today: http://app.campdoc.com/register/aarbf

Applications close on February 28, 2025.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Erika “Kika” Mendoza at emendoza@aarbf.org.

Join AARBF on February 13th from 6:30 to 8 pm for our monthly Burn Care Professionals Support Group.

This group is designed as a monthly group in which burn care professionals such as Nurses, Firefighters, Social Workers, and other related professionals can come together to share their experiences while caring for Burn Survivors in both hospital and acute settings. The fires in Southern California continue to have a tremendous impact on the residents and first responders in the affected areas, and for those not in SoCal, the fires might serve as a difficult reminder of past fires in other parts of the state. AARBF holds space for any burn care professional having difficulty processing the impact wildfires, past and present, have on us. We welcome you to join us if you would benefit from support, or offer support to those currently in need. Our support group will be facilitated by an AARBF Care Manager aimed at supporting the mental health of our dedicated healthcare professionals, first responders, and support staff.

The support group will take place via Zoom. Please reach out to Michael at mknopf@aarbf.org for questions.

Did you hear the news? Registration is now open for the Women’s Empowerment Weekend, March 27th-30th in Oakhurst, CA. The weekend event is open to women burn survivors ages 21+.

Register today: http://app.campdoc.com/register/aarbf

If you have any questions, please reach out to Erika “Kika” Mendoza at emendoza@aarbf.org.

Mark Your Calendar – The annual Torrance Firefighter’s Spaghetti Dinner & Bake Sale is coming up quickly on March 8th. Proceeds of this event benefit AARBF and Champ Camp. We are so grateful for the tremendous support of the Torrance Firefighters Association, Local 1138. We hope to see you there!

Our hearts feel heavy seeing the devastation in Southern California and our thoughts are with those who have lost homes and businesses, those who have had to evacuate and don’t yet know if they have a home to return to, and of course, the firefighters and first responders working on containment. 

We know this experience can be especially difficult for children, which is why we offer a Children & Recovery from Wildfires guide, designed to help children and families respond to the psychological impact of wildfires. This is a free resource and we encourage you to download a copy and send it to your family and friends. 

Wildfires can also surface a lot of emotions for burn survivors. If you are a survivor, please remember your feelings are valid and it is important to acknowledge them and seek for support when needed. It is okay to talk to someone about it. Our Care Managers are here to support you. We provide both one-on-one peer support and group support. Please reach out to Martha Banks at mbanks@aarbf.org or Michael Knopf at mknopf@aarbf.org and let us know how we can help. 

If you are still facing the threat of evacuation, it is not too late to create a “go bag” with the essentials using the 6P’s of Evacuation:

• People & pets
• Papers, phone numbers & important documents
• Prescriptions, vitamins & eyeglasses
• Pictures & irreplaceable memorabilia
• Personal computer, hard drive & disks
• “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) & cash

For additional resources, please download a copy of the Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E. Guide from the AARBF website at: www.aarbf.org/prepare.

On Saturday, December 7th, we welcomed 100 guests at the Central Valley Holiday Party at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds. It was a great time filled with cookie decorating, bike raffle, food, and visiting with Santa.

We could not create this experience for our burn survivors and their families without our fabulous supporters who provided toys, cookie supplies, bikes, and volunteered at the event. We had 18 volunteers to help make the magic happen. 

Thank you to Central Valley Firefighters Credit Union, CRMC Burn Unit, Fresno Fire (bike helmets), Toy Drive partners Sierra High CSF, Coalinga Fire, and “Bear with Us” the Central Valley Chapter of Good Bears of the World.

With 94 guests in attendance, the SoCal Holiday Party on Sunday, December 8th was a wonderful experience for our survivors and their families. This year we welcomed additional SoCal community partners to help make this event memorable for our survivors and their families. 

Once again, we were fortunate to have the support of Al Malaikah Shrine Club who have opened their doors to us for the past three years. 

We had two organizations conduct toy drives on our behalf. Thank you to F&A Federal Credit Union for having a collection box available in their lobby. 

We also thank LGC and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. for creating and executing their toy drive. This fraternity is focused on community service, scholarship, and leadership for the Latinx community and more. In addition to their toy drive, they also provided volunteers for the holiday party where they could see first-hand the smiles their efforts brought to the survivors and their families.

We were also grateful for a generous toy donation from our friends at Children’s Burn Foundation. Thank you for your continued support.

Last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank our AARBF volunteers who so generously give their time to this event and others throughout the year. Thank you for all you do to support AARBF.

On Saturday, December 7th, we held a holiday party in a new space at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC). This was the first of two parties taking place in NorCal. Attendees has a great time with fun family activities such as cookie decorating, making ornaments coloring, painting, and holiday card making. They also got to meet Santa who was able to give out lots of toys thanks the help of some very special holiday elves.  

On Sunday, December 8th, we hosted our second NorCal holiday party at the UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital in San Francisco. Having this party within the hospital, as with the party at SCVMC, is very special. AARBF’s Michael Knopf was delighted to see survivors who he first met while they were patients return to the hospital with their families for a fun day rather than medical reasons. It was great to see them be able to interact with the nurses and staff on a different level. Attendees had a variety of activities while awaiting their turn to see Santa. They enjoyed snowman sculpting, tree decorating, Jenga, Cornhole, and a variety of other board games. Even though it was December the ice cream sundaes were a bit hit. 

In addition to the holiday parties, Santa was able to visit burn patients at both hospitals who were unable to attend the festivities, greeting families and sharing gifts. At SCVMC, we were delighted to have our friend Rana “Lil Bear” Stephan join Santa for the hospital tour where they also visited the pediatrics unit.  

We are so very grateful for the many volunteers who support our annual holiday parties. At SCVMC, Linda Carrier along with her family and friends assisted with party planning and the toy drive through BMO Bank; Rana Stephan, Lea Lyn Zaballero, and Carissa Chezar along with other hospital staff facilitated the use of the room and helped to welcome families to the event; and Natalie Plecque and volunteers arrived extra early to help set up for the event. 

Making the magic happen in San Francisco were Donna Europa, Rommel Gotico, and Grace Rivera for providing the space for the holiday party and Donna and Rommel for providing the wonderful decorations; Amber Piggue, Berkeley Fire, Shelby and John Fischer supplied the amazing food, beverages, and ice cream that were so appreciated by our guests; Hydra, Chop Suey and volunteers arrived early to help set up for the event and Emmet from Berkeley Fire made all of the volunteers happy by arriving first and setting up an incredible coffee/hot cocoa station and breakfast for the volunteers.

On December 18th, CRMC joined the Fresno Fire Department who opened their doors at the Headquarters building in Downtown Fresno for a unique shopping day for three Central Valley burn survivor families. Youth burn survivors were invited to “shop” from toys donated from the Traffic Controllers Supervisors Association (TCSA). AARBF’s Katrina Arthur accepted the toys at a TCSA luncheon earlier in the month. This is the second year TCSA has conducted a toy drive for this purpose. The generosity of the TSCA also included a little something for the parents with the donation of gift cards to local retailers. Thank you, TCSA, your partnership helps make the holidays a little brighter and easier for these families.

Stanley is recalling 2.6 million mugs sold in the U.S. after the company received dozens of consumer complaints, including some users who reported getting burned and requiring medical attention. 

The recall covers all Stanley Switchback and Trigger Action stainless steel travel mugs, which are double-walled mugs sold in a number of colors and sizes that came with a polypropylene lid, according to the recall notice posted Thursday by the Consumer Safety Product Commission. The Stanley logo, a winged bear with a crown, appears on the front and bottom of the mug. 

The company has received 91 reports worldwide about the lids coming loose while in use, leading to 38 burn injuries. The CSPC said 16 of the complaints stemmed from U.S. consumers, including 2 burn injuries.

Read the full story: https://tinyurl.com/585ppma4

Applications are now open for Champ Camp Counselors and CITs. This year’s camp will be held June 7th-14th (Counselors arrive Thursday, June 5th). 

Apply today: http://app.campdoc.com/register/aarbf

Applications close on February 28, 2025. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Erika “Kika” Mendoza at emendoza@aarbf.org.