Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation A Charitable Corporation

TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BURN INJURIES THROUGH PREVENTION EDUCATION, AND TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THOSE AFFECTED BY BURN INJURIES IN CALIFORNIA.

SURVIVOR SERVICESSCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS: THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BURN SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AARBF OFFERS FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS, THE WOODY AND LOUISE "BRIDGE TO LIFE" SCHOLARSHIP, THE AIMING HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP, THE PHOENIX WORLD BURN CONGRESS SCHOLARSHIP AND THERAPY GRANTS. IN ADDITION, AARBF OFFERS EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DURING HOSPITALIZATION, INCLUDING FINANCIAL, HOUSING AND FOOD ASSISTANCE; AS WELL AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES, INCLUDING PRESSURE GARMENTS AND IMAGE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING COSMETICS, WIGS, AND MAKE-UP.CAMPS AND RECREATION: CHAMP CAMP IS THE LARGEST AS WELL AS ONE OF THE LONGEST RUNNING SUMMER BURN CAMPS IN THE WORLD AND IS HELD EACH YEAR DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE AT WONDER VALLEY RANCH IN SANGER, CA. IN 2023, WE HOSTED 95 CAMPERS INCLUDING 14 COUNSELORS IN TRAINING (CIT). CITS ARE PAST CAMPERS (AGES 18-20) WHO HAVE RETURNED TO CAMP TO TRAIN TO BE FUTURE COUNSELORS WHEN THEY TURN TWENTY-ONE. CHAMP CAMP IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE, UPLIFT AND EMPOWER BURN SURVIVOR CHILDREN. THROUGH CHAMP CAMP, MANY OF OUR CAMPERS BUILD LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS WITH FELLOW SURVIVORS AND GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE WHICH THEY CARRY BACK INTO THEIR LIVES AFTER CAMP. ONE OF OUR SURVIVORS, AIDEN (AGE 15) STATES, "CHAMP CAMP IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE, "IT LETS PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE NO MATTER THEIR BURNS IT IS A SAFE PLACE."OTHER CAMP PROGRAMS - YOUNG ADULT SUMMIT (YAS) IS A WEEKEND RETREAT FOR BURN SURVIVORS AGES 16-21 THAT TEACHES LIFE MANAGEMENT SKILLS, PROMOTES EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND FOCUSES ON RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. IN 2023, YAS WAS HELD FEBRUARY 17-20, AT CAMP OCEAN PINES IN CAMBRIA, CA. WHERE WE WELCOMED 25 YOUNG ADULT BURN SURVIVORS. WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES WERE FOCUSED ON FOSTERING CONNECTIONS AS PARTICIPANTS LEARNED ABOUT HOME REPAIR, AUTO REPAIR, W4S, AND BODY IMAGE. THEY ALSO ENJOYED THE ANNUAL ETIQUETTE DINNER. THE ADULT RETREAT IS A SURVIVOR-DRIVEN PROGRAM THAT OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADULT BURN SURVIVORS, AGES 21 AND OVER, TO LEARN FROM OTHER BURN SURVIVORS IN ATTENDANCE. THE ADULT RETREAT IS HELD AT THE SAME LOCATION AND WEEKEND AS THE YOUNG ADULT SUMMIT, FEBRUARY 17-20. WE WELCOMED 27 ADULT BURN SURVIVORS. THE GROUP PARTICIPATED IN A NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS WHICH INCLUDED TOPICS SUCH AS GROWING SELF-LOVE AND SELF-WORTH, BODY IMAGE, AND THE NEXT STEPS TO HEALING. THE GROUP ALSO TOOK A FIELD TRIP TO THE PIEDRAS BLANCAS LIGHT HOUSE AND ENJOYED A SPECIAL HEALING ACTIVITY WITH A GIFTED SOUND ALCHEMIST WHO LED THE GROUP IN A SOUND BATH SESSION. THE GETAWAY FAMILY CAMP IS A WEEKEND CAMP FOR ADULT BURN SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES/SUPPORTERS HELD IN COARSEGOLD, CA. THE CAMP IS DESIGNED TO BE A PLACE WHERE ADULT BURN SURVIVORS CAN CONNECT WITH PEERS WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR SITUATIONS AND RECEIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IN A FUN AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT. IN 2023, WE HAD PRE-PANDEMIC ATTENDANCE LEVELS. OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 2-4, WE WELCOMED A TOTAL OF 135 ATTENDEES; 45 SURVIVORS AND 90 FAMILY/SUPPORT MEMBERS. THE WEEKEND INCLUDED MANY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE FAMILY OLYMPICS, KID'S CAMP, A GIANT SWING, PAINTBALL, ARCHERY TAG, AXE THROWING, A DANCE, AN OPEN MIC AND SEVERAL SUPPORT GROUPS. OUR THEME FOR THE WEEKEND WAS FROM THE POPULAR DR. SUESS BOOK "OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!"WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND - IN 2022, AARBF LAUNCHED A NEW IN-PERSON WEEKEND RETREAT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR ADULT WOMEN BURN SURVIVORS CALLED THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND. IN 2023, THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND WAS CANCELED DUE TO RECORD SNOWFALL AND INACCESSIBLE ROADWAY TO THE CAMP LOCATION. ADDITIONAL SUPPORTIN 2023, AARBF CREATED TWO STAFF POSITIONS, CALLED CARE MANAGERS, WHO FOCUS DIRECTLY ON EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEY ENSURE SURVIVORS ARE AWARE OF OUR SUPPORT SERVICES AND ENCOURAGES SURVIVORS TO ENGAGE IN THE PROGRAMS BEST SUITED FOR THEIR NEEDS AND STAGE OF RECOVERY. IN 2023, THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION CONDUCTED IN-PERSON AND E-VISITS TO HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA VISITING 345 BURN SURVIVORS AND 85 FAMILY MEMBERS. PARTNER HOSPITALS INCLUDE: SHRINER'S HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAINT FRANCIS BOTHIN BURN CENTER, SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER, FRESNO COMMUNITY REGIONAL CENTER, LA GENERAL, TORRANCE MEMORIAL CENTER, AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE BURN CENTER.AARBF FACILITATED 157 PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT MEETINGS IN 2023, ALLOWING BURN SURVIVORS TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH BURN SURVIVORS AND FAMILY/CAREGIVERS SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH FAMILY/CAREGIVERS TO ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS. IN 2023, THE MOST OF OUR REGIONAL SUPPORT GROUPS RETURNED TO IN-PERSON OR HYBRID MEETINGS. IN ADDITION TO IN-PERSON REGIONAL GROUPS, AARBF ALSO OFFERS VIRTUAL GROUPS INCLUDING SPECIAL SESSIONS FOR CAREGIVERS, BURN CARE PROFESSIONALS AND SPANISH-SPEAKING. IN TOTAL, AARBF FACILITATED OR SUPPORTED 108 SUPPORT GROUPS, SERVING 385 BURN SURVIVORS AND 168 FAMILY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS.

BURN PREVENTION:DURING FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, WE COLLABORATED WITH PYRAMID EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS (PECS), THE CO-CREATORS OF THE N.I.C.K. PROGRAM, TO CREATE A COOKING SAFETY INFOGRAPHIC TO HELP LEARNERS WHO BENEFIT FROM USING VISUAL DIRECTIONS AND RESOURCES. THIS COLORFUL NEW INFOGRAPHIC CAN BE PLACED IN THE KITCHEN OF RESIDENTIAL, EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, OR HOME SETTINGS WHERE LEARNERS CAN VIEW THESE IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS. THEY ARE GOOD REMINDERS FOR EVERY KITCHEN.ON JULY 21,2023, WE COLLABORATED WITH AARP CALIFORNIA TO PROMOTE SAFETY TIPS FOR BURN PREVENTION USING ELEMENTS OF AARBF'S SENIOR PREVENTION AND RISK CONVERSATIONS (SPARC) PROGRAM IN A VIRTUAL WORKSHOP. AARP CALIFORNIA OFFERS A HOMEFIT PROGRAM WHICH TEACHES OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS HOW TO HELP MAKE THEIR HOME SAFER AND MORE COMFORTABLE AS THEY AGE IN PLACE. THE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP HAD 47 IN ATTENDANCE. AARBF ALONG WITH A TEAM OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS COMPLETED A TWO-YEAR PROJECT WHERE THEY DEVELOPED A METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATING ANY FIRE SAFETY MESSAGE THAT CAN BE SCALED AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE FIRE AND BURN SAFETY COMMUNITY AND DEPARTMENTS. IN MARCH OF 2023, AARBF INTRODUCED THE IMPAC-TOOL DURING A SERIES OF WEBINARS. THE TOOL IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE FIRE SAFETY MESSAGING IS BOTH ACCURATE AND EFFECTIVE AND THAT WE ARE MAXIMIZING OUR ABILITY TO AFFECT BEHAVIORAL CHANGE WITH THESE MESSAGES.