June 2025 Burn Bulletin

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.

We love our volunteers and supporters. We would not be able to provide the programs and services that our burn community has come to depend on without our team of dedicated volunteers and generous donors. As we strive to always show our love, in 2025, we are doing it a bit differently. Starting this month, we will be issuing an exclusive sticker to anyone who volunteers or donates $100 or more within the given month. Each month will have an exclusive design, representing our appreciation, or highlighting one of our programs or services. This month’s sticker represents our excitement for 2025! 

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.