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.
