Burn Bulletin

On January 12-15, 2024, the Champ Camp planning team gathered at Pismo Beach to begin preparations for Champ Camp 2024. Our group was generously hosted by “Shakespeare,” and the retreat was led by our amazing camp directors, “Rocks” and “Willow.” Dedicated volunteers from across the state and country, traveled to attend the retreat where we decided on a theme – watch for that announcement coming soon! If you’re interested in becoming a counselor, it’s not too late. Click here to visit the Champ Camp page and click on the application link.

The AARBF Staff and Board and Council met for their respective in-person retreats during the fourth week in January in Pismo Beach and Los Osos. The staff arrived in Pismo Beach on Wednesday, January 24th and dived right into a busy agenda which included learning about new operational procedures, how to make an effective presentation, fund development 101, improvements to our volunteer application and onboarding process, and several team building activities. We also assembled Champ Camp hospital bags designed for children currently being treated in California burn units. These bags contain fun camp items for the kids and information about AARBF and Champ Camp for the parents. The Care Managers will be distributing the bags over the next two months during their hospital in-service presentations.

On Friday, January 26th, the board and council members arrived and staff joined them for lunch and an awesome escape room team building activity. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to work together, using our unique skillsets to beat the clock and escape. At dinner, we were delighted to be joined by Ruch family members, including Diane Ruch Host.

On Saturday, January 27th, the board and council were joined by staff in Los Osos for the morning session which included the installation of new board members and officers, who will serve for a two-year term. We were also excited to see so many of our council members able to join in for the weekend. Staff gave a presentation on the parameters we’ve identified to determine success in our programs and services before leaving for home at Noon. The board and council continued their retreat through Sunday, January 28th, where they reviewed the goals of the various board committees and began the groundwork for a new three-year strategic plan.

Board committees are not restricted to board and council members. We have committees focused on Survivor Services, Prevention, Fund Development, Finance, and Communications. If you would like to join a committee or our board and council, please visit our website at https://www.aarbf.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ to learn more or contact us at info@aarbf. org.

Mark your calendar for the 50th Anniversary of the Torrance Firefighters Association’s Spaghetti Dinner and Bake Sale on Saturday, March 9th. We hope you will take part in this family-friendly evening while supporting Torrance Firefighters, AARBF and Champ Camp. Watch our social media for updates.

The Hanford Fire Department (Scott Mellon) and Fire Academy students from the Fresno City College (FCC), Class 61 and College of the Sequoias, Class 21-42 are raising funds for AARBF and Champ Camp by participating in the Fresno Urban Run on Sunday , May 5th. This is an annual event and our three teams will not only be competing against each other on May 5th but are also in a race to see who can be the top fundraiser. Are you for Team Hanford, Team FCC, or Team Sequoias? Show your support by visiting: https://p2p.onecause.com/fresnourbanrun2024 and cheer your team to victory!

On Saturday, December 2nd, we cohosted the annual holiday party with our friends from the CRMC Burn Unit. We had a great time spending the day with twenty-four families from across the valley enjoying great food, creating fun crafts, decorating cookies, and taking pictures with Santa. This day would not have been possible without our fabulous volunteers and generous partners who donated bikes, bike helmets, toys, and their time to ensure everyone had the best day.

A special thank you to our Central Valley community partners: CRMC Burn Unit, National University Student Nursing Cohort 29, Coalinga Fire Department, Fresno Fire Department, and Sierra High School. Thank you for making the holidays shine for our survivors and their families.

On December 3rd, we had a blast renewing friendships and creating new ones at the SoCal Holiday Party. With over 155 guests registered for this year’s event, we knew it would be epic. Everyone had a great time, visiting with each other over lunch, making fun crafts, cookie decorating, and of course, meeting Santa. We so enjoyed having our SoCal families spend the day with us.

We are so very grateful to our wonderful volunteers: Marilyn and Danna Bran, Lourdes Heredia, Sandra Correa, the Velaport Family (Fabiola, Jasmin, Nicholi, and Abby), the Lopez Family (Eunice, Kayla, Erick, and Liana), Lynne and Nils Gjertson, Aymar Family (Bob, Leslie, Amy and Megan), Angelica & Ulbens Benoit-Hernandez, Che Ochtli, Valeria Aragon, Dulce Diaz and Jose Hernandez. We could not have held this event without each and every one of you. Thank you!

The AARBF holiday parties continued on December 9th and 10th in Northern California. On Saturday, we spent time with our friends at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose where we had thirty-one families join us. Our time included cookie decorating, ornament painting, and shopping bag decorating for use in Santa’s store. Picture time was the best. Not only did our guests get to take photos with Santa they also got to meet Captain America!

A very special thank you to our friend and long-time holiday party supporter, Linda Carrier, and her family. We would also like to thank our huge team of volunteers, West Coast Avengers (Captain America), and of course, Santa!

On December 12th, AARBF was invited to attend the Traffic Controllers Supervisor Association’s Christmas luncheon where Erika and Katrina shared the mission of AARBF and were the recipients of the TCSA’s holiday toy drive. The toys collected will help support families in need from the Central Valley this Christmas. AARBF is grateful to all the members of TCSA who generously brought toys for burn survivors and their families. And, we look forward to growing our community partnership. TSCA members include the City of Clovis, Fresno County, Madera County, and Tulare County.

On December 22nd, AARBF partnered with the Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Fresno, CA to distribute those toys, providing a little extra support to several burn survivors and their families during the holiday season. Parents were invited to “shop” the toys that were generously donated by the TCSA. AARBF is privileged to assist CRMC in helping to alleviate some of the stress of the holidays for those burn survivors living in the Central Valley.

Thank you to the Fresno Fire Department (and Arson K-9 Shilo) for providing a unique venue and experience for the survivors and their families.

2023 was an amazing year filled with many beautiful moments and changes. One such moment includes when Martha Banks joined the AARBF Team as the new Survivor Care Manager.

In this video link above, Martha opens up and shares her experience of being a child burn survivor. Included in her story was how meeting James Bosch, an AARBF staff member and burn survivor, influenced her life. James visited her in the hospital while she was being treated for her burn injuries and remained a resource to her as she began her survivor journey. This care management had a profound impact on Martha which inspired her throughout her life and ultimately led her to come back to AARBF as an adult to provide that same support and care to other burn survivors.

The Power of Support is something we value here at AARBF and strive to provide to our burn survivor community. From support groups to the newly named, James Bosch Therapy Grant, we assist our survivors and their family members as they navigate their own journey.