Burn Bulletin

On May 9th-10th, we welcomed three amazing new counselors to the Champ Camp family during our New Counselor Training at Wonder Valley Ranch. Welcome Pacha, Maybe, and Caveman. 

Throughout the weekend, they participated in ice breakers, camp and counselor training, camper management discussions, and skit groups while getting a feel for the energy, teamwork, and heart that make Champ Camp so special. It was so great watching everyone come together, step outside of their comfort zones, and already begin building connections with the camp family. Caveman really took to his name and even shared a few survival tips with the group, which was such a fun add on to the weekend.

A huge thank you as well to our dedicated program staff for leading the weekend and helping create such a welcoming and supportive experience for our new counselors.

On May 11th, Three Off the Tee LLC hosted the Fairways for the Fallen Golf Tournament at Temecula Creek Inn, benefiting AARBF. This small firefighter-owned business hosted a well-run event, welcoming players who enjoyed beautiful weather, and a chance to learn more about our mission at our information table.

We are grateful to Three Off the Tee LLC for their support and commitment to giving back to the community. Thank you to their sponsors, volunteers, and golfers who helped make the tournament a success while supporting AARRBF.

This month, we are excited to share how Natalie Plecque has made a large impact in a short time!

Natalie has only been a part of the AARBF family since 2020. Burned in September of that year during COVID she spent 25 days in the SCVM burn unit. Unable to have any visitors created a very isolating experience for Natalie. Luckily two of her nurses, Lea and Rana, were affiliated with AARBF and provided her a connection with other survivors through AARBF’s virtual support group. “It saved my sanity by showing me I was not alone, and that there was a light on the other side.”  With this experience, Natalie was motivated to give back. As soon as she was eligible, she completed the peer support training.

In 2023, Natalie joined the Survivor Services Committee where she used her 20 years of experience teaching children to help the team launch the Under 5 Program. This included the compilation of a book list and the creation of the Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) Under 5 family outing. “I know first-hand how vital it is for survivors and their families have support, so once MBA was up and running it was logical for me to step up into a bigger role.” That bigger role was first joining the Council of Advisors and then this past January transitioning to the Board of Directors. With Natalie’s new role on the board, she has also taken over as Chair of the Survivor Services Committee! And if this isn’t enough, Natalie represents the foundation at community events, serves on the Bridge to Life Scholarship Committee, and each month she, along with two other board members, sends out personal thank you cards to convey our appreciation to the donors who are a part of the Ruch Family Circle. Thank you, Natalie, for being a part of the AARBF family and to your commitment to support other burn survivors and their families!

Applications will be closing soon 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.

Apply today at: https://forms.gle/bffj8qEcspGto69m7

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

During our Monterey Bay Aquarium Under 5 Day event on Saturday, April 11th, we had the opportunity to start the morning at Fire Station 11, hosted by the Monterey Firefighters Foundation. They welcomed our families with a delicious breakfast, gave us a tour of the station, and provided a space for a parent support group led by Poppy and Figgy. It was a meaningful way to connect, share, and ease into the day together. 

After our time at the station, full of bubbles, we gathered to thank the fire crew for their support before heading over to the Monterey Bay Aquarium as a group, where families could keep that connection going while also having fun, exploring, and just being together. 

A huge thank you to the Aquarium for supporting community partners like us through the Free to Learn program. It truly makes a difference for our families. 

This event is all about creating a smaller, comfortable space for our families with little ones to come together, connect, and support each other in a way that feels safe and manageable. A huge thank you to our MBA core volunteer group for continuing to show up for our families with little burn survivors and helping create these spaces for connection.

During the week of April 13th, our director, Katrina, joined hundreds of other Burn Care professionals at the 2026 American Burn Association’s Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. The yearly gathering of Nurses, Surgeons, Doctors, Firefighters, Burn Camp Directors, and Burn Foundation leaders from all over the US offers opportunities to build new partnerships, learn about new treatments, share groundbreaking studies, and collaborate in caring for burn survivors. Katrina had the chance to connect with our hospital partners from Santa Clara Valley Medical, UC Irvine, Torrance Memorial, LA General, and UCLA, as well as our Burn Foundation partners from the Children’s Burn Foundation, Phoenix Society, IAFF Burn Camps, and Bakersfield Firefighter Burn Foundation.

On April 15th, the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation had the opportunity to attend an event where we were honored to receive a grant from the Central California Women’s Conference (CCWC). We would like to extend a special thank you to burn survivor Veronica for accompanying our Camps and Recreation Manager, Erika, and for helping represent our community in such a meaningful way. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with fellow nonprofits across the Central Valley and to be part of a space that reflects a shared commitment to supporting individuals across different stages of life. CCWC’s mission to empower and transform women directly supports and strengthens our work, as many of those we serve are women, caregivers, and families navigating the burn recovery journey. 

We truly appreciate their support and investment in our work. Contributions like this continue to make a meaningful impact on the burn community.

On Saturday, April 18th, we joined the Colma Firemen’s Social Club for their awesome Chicken and Polenta Dinner. The community support for this event has always been outstanding, and this year was no different. Although we ran out of chicken, everyone took it in stride, because what’s better than supporting a great cause by enjoying a home-cooked meal with great company.

A special thank you to Colma Firefighters for continuing to support AARBF through this annual event. We appreciate you so much, and look forward to spending more time alongside you in the future.

In March, the Clovis Rodeo Association hosted the 2026 Cowgirl Up Luncheon, which raised funding for AARBF as its charity of choice. AARBF’s Katrina was joined by camper Payton to accept the check at the 112th Clovis Rodeo on Sunday, April 25th. Payton and his family enjoyed PBR-level Bull Riding, Calf Roping, and Championship Barrel Racing while helping to thank the Clovis Rodeo Association for their generous donation of $46,000 to help send youth burn survivors to Champ Camp. Thank you for your support.