The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s mission is to significantly reduce the number of burn injuries
AARBF’s burn survivor services programs engage them in a community of peers and support networks to help build confidence and provide social opportunities, connects them with resources for coping with their injuries, and supports burn survivors’ immediate basic human needs. Currently, AARBF has six survivor services programs (Champ Camp, Young Adult Summit, The Getaway Family Camp, School Re-entry
Program, in-hospital support, and support groups), and two comprehensive prevention programs (Firefighters in Safety Education and Community Outreach). In-Hospital Support
AARBF provides in-hospital support for burn survivors at every stage of their recovery, from when they first enter the burn unit to years later. Survivor services coordinator, Bonita Gomez works with nurses, social workers, physical therapists and other hospital staff to assess burn survivors for their support needs through regular visits, support groups, and follow up. In some situations survivors require peer support, such as meeting another burn survivor who experienced a similar injury. Other survivors require financial support and, most frequently, they need both. Many burn survivors must travel far from their homes to these burn units for treatment. To ensure they receive the treatment they need and basic human needs during recovery, AARBF provides grocery and gas cards, taxi vouchers or bus passes and hotel stays for survivors and their loved ones. Once burn survivors have left the burn unit, they have just begun their journey to physical and emotional recovery. In order to continue supporting survivors as they re-enter a society concerned with physical appearance, AARBF provides monthly staff/volunteer-run support groups and one-on-one peer support from well-adjusted, trained burn survivors. Champ Camp and Other Survivor Events
Engaging burn survivors in multiple AARBF programs, assisting them to become self-sufficient, and keeping them involved in a supportive community, possibly becoming peer supporters themselves, exhibits the benefits of AARBF’s survivor services programs. AARBF’s burn survivor services programs function as a year-round, multi-faceted plan to provide a 360º approach to aiding burn survivors in their journeys to healing from within. AARBF organizes three annual camp programs specifically designed for youth, young adults, and adult burn survivors. Champ Camp is the largest burn camp in the nation for burn survivors ages 5-16. For burn survivors ages 16-21, AARBF hosts the Young Adult Summit, a weekend retreat for older youth that empowers them to fulfill their potential as they transition into adulthood and become independent. The Getaway is a family camp weekend for adult burn survivors and their families, where they can connect with peers who understand their situations and receive emotional support in a fun and safe environment. AARBF also offers six regional trips, including the Central California ski and surf trips, for children ages 5 to 16, for year-round peer social interaction. For more information contact one of our regional offices: Southern CA 818-848-0223, Northern CA 415-495-7223, Central CA 559-621-4016.
06/19/2026
The Friends of Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF’s Alumni Association) is having a Family Social Day on August 22, 2026, and you’re invited!
Bring your family and spend the day reconnecting with camp friends, meeting new faces, sharing laughs, and enjoying time together with the burn community.
Food and drinks will be generously provided by Fresno Firefighters Local 202.
Applications for the Woody and Louise Reed Bridge to Life Scholarship are closing this weekend - June 20, 2026!
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.
Tickets are on sale NOW for the 16th Annual Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation Dinner & Dance on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds. We are offering an Early Bird discount on our Ticket packages: Group Tables and Sponsorship Packages. These discounts will end on July 31st, so purchase your tickets today!
If you are a local business and would like to sponsor a table or donate an item to our Silent or Live Auction, please get in touch with Katrina at [email protected] or call 559-286-0710 ext 110.
06/15/2026
Volunteer Spotlight: Natalie Plecque
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!
06/10/2026
Don’t miss out! The Central County Firefighters Pancake Breakfast is this Saturday, June 13th!
06/08/2026
Champ Camp got underway with so much excitement, and Sunday night, our CIT (Counselors in Training) leadership group (graduated campers ages 18-20 who hope to go on and become camp counselors--spoiler alert--if they DO, we will be soooo fortunate) had the opportunity to jump on a camp bus to Clovis for teambuilding and fun with our friends at Unlock Escape Rooms. We split up to find our way out of an Alice in Wonderland/White Rabbit adventure, Harry Potter Potions class, and Jurassic Laboratories (but maybe the dinosaur got to us before we could escape)
The Unlock Escape Rooms group took great care of our superstar CITs. We continued onward to "Soups, Scoops & More" vintage ice cream shop, where we got sugared up and entertained with songs from the warm hosts.
Tomorrow, we welcome kids to another awesome experience at Champ Camp! Over the next week, we will be sharing glimpses into this life-changing week for our burn survivor youth. You can help ensure AARBF can continue to provide a safe space for these children in the years to come by making your impactful gift today through our Champy-On fundraiser, which has been extended to Saturday, June 13th.
On May 11th, Three Off the Tee LLC hosted the Fairways for the Fallen Golf Tournament at Temecula Creek Inn, benefiting AARBF. Players enjoyed beautiful weather, a well run event, 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 for supporting the tournament and AARBF.
💙 Thank you for making this tournament a success.
06/02/2026
On Friday, May 8th, our director, Katrina, was joined by Veronica, Bethany, Persaeus, Yahir, and guests to support the Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation at their annual Light Up the Night fundraising dinner. The evening took place at the Kern County Museum Neon Courtyard, where survivors, burn care professionals, members of the Phoenix Society, and Firefighters came together to help send survivors to Champ Camp and the Phoenix Society's World Burn Congress.
AARBF is proud to support our fellow Burn Foundations through events such as this. Together, we continue to provide essential services to burn survivors and their families. Thank you to the Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation for a wonderful evening and your dedication to the burn community.
06/01/2026
Mark your calendar for the Central County Firefighters Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, June 13th! We hope you'll be there!
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