Gino Rinaldi

Gino and his wife Cindy at Champ Camp 2007

The AARBF staff would like to congratulate our Board VP, Gino Rinaldi for being a PG&E Mielke Award Finalist. Gino will be honored at the Mielke Award ceremony in San Francisco on November 19^th  and is receiving a $5,000 grant award from PG&E on behalf of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation.

 

Gino your kindness, sincerity and commitment to the Burn Foundation are evident in all you do, thank you so much for all the ways that help us!

 

Central Coast Relay 2008

 

Southern Relay Route Fire Fighters Demonstrate How to “Stop, Drop, and Roll”

Annual Central Coast Relay was held on October 9^th during Fire Prevention Week. Fire departments from throughout San Luis Obispo County with the help of local news personalities from NBC’s local affiliate KSBY, went from school to school teaching elementary aged students valuable burn prevention messages and raising money for AARBF.

In one day, over 16 schools were visited and 5,000 children were taught “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” “Get Low and Go”, not to touch matches, and other safety tips in case of a fire.

 

Highlights included local rescue dogs performing “Stop, Drop, and Roll” and St. Patrick’s Catholic school raising over $500 in a coin drive!

 

AARBF wants to thank the SLO County Fire Chief’s Association, Steve Knuckles, Bill Murphy and all the fire departments, schools, and organizations that helped us raise $16,800 and to all the volunteers who helped us make this day a fun and educational event!

World Burn Congress – One Survivor’s Story

Jennifer Allen-Social Worker at CRMC's Burn Unit, Mike Lopez-AARBF's WBC Scholarship Recipient, and Sandra Yovino-Nurse Manager at CRMC's Burn Unit Pose For A Picture While at World Burn Congress

Mike Lopez was awarded a scholarship from AARBF to attend World Burn Congress in Raleigh North Carolina.  Mike had an amazing time and was willing to share about his experience.  Below is one survivor’s story of World Burn Congress.

My experience at the World Burn Congress was a life changing event I’ll never forget.  It brought me together with burn survivors and care takers from around the world. There are days and nights where I feel like I am the only one who understands what its like, but at every second of WBC I felt connected with everyone. All participants who attended the conference knew what was up. I used to think that no one knew what it was like to walk in my shoes, but in the strangest way I met other survivors who knew exactly what I was going through.

On opening day I was a part of the Young Adult Odyssey. It was a lecture given by a mentor figure in the burn society. It gave all of the technical information to every aspect of moving forward in surviving your burns. Even though I feel like I already have enough motivation and confidence in myself to be apart of this support network I was still able to put in my thoughts and give some words to help others. I feel I did my part in this because I made a few statements that brought forth help on topics presented by survivors in need of some guidance.

WBC made me feel accepted in society. What helped me feel secure the most was the closing ceremony. All participants gathered in a circle over three hundred people where we held hands and listened to a motivating song that was sung by a pair of survivors. Throughout the song I looked around the circle and saw everyone connected, the feeling was so uplifting and at that very moment everyone was at peace and nothing else mattered.

I would highly recommend this event for all people in the burn society. Even if you feel like WBC is unnecessary for you because you obtain the steady emotions to press forward, you should still give it a try. Maybe you could be the one who helps motivate and guide survivors who are still trying to cope with their situation.

                                                Martin “Mike” Lopez

11th Annual Diamond Bar Golf Tournament

Ethan Ruch and Ken Hewett at the Diamond Bar Golf Tournament

 

The 11^th annual Diamond Bar Golf Tournament was held on September 22^nd at the Via Verde Country Club. This was a banner year for the tournament as it welcomed 4 new platinum sponsors and raised over $30,000 to help send kids to Champ Camp! Highlights of the days festivities included a putting contest, an 18 hole 4-man team competition, a trophy presentation and an exciting opportunity drawing and auction.
 

AARBF would like to thank Ken and Toni Hewett for 27 years of support and for their tremendous effort to make this tournament happen year after year.

 

AARBF would also like to thank the Ruch Family, Jim Stamp and the numerous volunteers and participants who donated their time and money to make this tournament an amazing event.

Fire Prevention Week

It only takes a second. . .

During October’s Fire Prevention week, the Prevention team encourages families to plan their “Great Escape Plan” by making sure that they talk to their children about the safest way to leave their home in case of a fire.

Fire Prevention Week is October 5 – 11 and this year’s theme is “Prevent Home Fires.” In 2006 there were nearly 400,000 home fires in the United States. In light of this, we recommend parents walking through their homes with their children and identifying what are safest routes out. Families can make it a fun activity by having their children draw their home map with their escape route on the map.

Your family’s Great Escape should include a designated meeting place outside the home so that everyone knows where to go. Every year children participate in a variety of emergency preparedness drills at their schools – this year as a family, plan a fire escape drill in your home and model positive prevention messages!