Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation

What Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation does

The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 and headquartered in Fresno, delivering fire and burn prevention education alongside direct survivor services. Its program portfolio is split between prevention (Firefighters in Safety Education / FISE reaching 30,000+ elementary students annually, the N.I.C.K. Program for neurodivergent learners, and Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E. for household preparedness) and survivor services (Champ Camp for ages 5-17, Young Adult Summit for ages 16-20, Adult Retreat at Camp Ocean Pines, Women's Empowerment Weekend, an Under 5 Program, in-person and virtual support groups at hospitals such as CRMC, LA General, Santa Clara Valley and UCSF Saint Francis, peer support, hospital visits, therapy grants, and the Woody and Louise Reed Bridge to Life Scholarship). Operationally it runs on a small paid staff of 1-10 augmented by a large volunteer network, many of whom are burn survivors themselves, and it holds BBB Accredited Charity and GuideStar Platinum Transparency credentials.

Distribution is achieved through institutional partnerships rather than product sales — 12+ California medical centers host support groups and refer patients, while 55+ fire departments serve as both prevention delivery and fundraising channels. The foundation generates no fee revenue: all services are free to burn survivors and families, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, legacy giving, and a recurring calendar of fundraising events including the Dinner & Dance, SoCal Golf Tournament, Fresno Urban Run, Central Valley Burn Relay, spaghetti dinners, stair climbs, and beer festivals. Key reported 2025 outcomes include 769+ survivors and families served through camps and recreation, 520+ support group attendees, 388 peer support sessions, 538 hospital visits, and 6,000+ households reached through P.R.E.P.A.R.E.

The organization is governed by a board led by Board President Dave Miller and run operationally by Executive Director Daniel Chacon alongside a small team including Katrina Arthur (Director/Associate Director), Care Managers Michael Knopf and Martha Banks, and Camps and Recreation Manager Erika Mendoza. It maintains active social media presence, a monthly Burn Bulletin newsletter, and partnerships spanning healthcare, fire service, education, and adjacent nonprofit organizations including the Phoenix Society, Children's Burn Foundation, and Camp Ocean Pines.

Name

Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation

Legal name

Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation

Website

https://aarbf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation is a Fresno-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1971, providing burn prevention education and survivor support services — including Champ Camp, support groups, retreats, and the Bridge to Life Scholarship — to burn survivors and their families across California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Burn Survivor Support and Fire Prevention Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Education (CPR/First Aid/Disaster Readiness) (EDAAAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Burn survivor support
• Fire prevention education
• Nonprofit survivor services
• Burn recovery programs
• Wildfire preparedness outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events such as golf tournaments, dinner & dance events, and community runs. Many donors contribute through legacy giving programs.
2. Foundation Programs: Champ Camp, support groups, retreats, and recreation programs for burn survivors. Family-focused programs including Under 5 Program and Young Adult Summit.
3. Educational Scholarships: Woody and Louise Reed Bridge to Life Scholarship awarded to burn survivors or immediate family members for post-secondary education.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AARBF delivers free survivor support services and fire/burn prevention education to Californians. Core offerings include residential and day camps for child burn survivors (Champ Camp, Young Adult Summit, Adult Retreat, Women's Empowerment Weekend, Under 5 Program), peer-led support groups held at partner hospitals, SOAR peer support training and hospital visits, post-secondary scholarships for burn survivors and their families, and community prevention curricula (FISE for elementary students, N.I.C.K. for neurodivergent learners, Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E. for households).

Product overview

The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of survivor services and burn prevention programs, not a commercial tech product. The core offerings include Champ Camp (annual summer camp for youth ages 5-17), Young Adult Summit (ages 16-20), Adult Retreat (ages 21+), Women's Empowerment Weekend, and the Under 5 Program for families. These camp and recreation programs are complemented by support groups held at California medical centers (LA General, Fresno CRMC, Santa Clara Valley, UCSF Saint Francis), virtual support groups, and the SOAR peer support training. Educational support includes the Woody and Louise Reed Bridge to Life Scholarship for burn survivors pursuing post-secondary education. Prevention programs include Firefighters in Safety Education (FISE) reaching over 30,000 elementary students annually, the N.I.C.K. Program for neurodivergent learners, and the Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E. preparedness program. Additional programs include the What Now Workshop series and monthly Burn Bulletin newsletter. The organization hosts annual fundraising events including the Dinner & Dance and Central Valley Firefighters Burn Relay.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Champ Camp: Annual summer camp program for young burn survivors ages 5-17 held in Wonder Valley, Sanger, CA. The 44th annual Champ Camp is scheduled for June 6-13, 2026.
• FISE (Firefighters in Safety Education)
• N.I.C.K. Program
• Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E.

Products and services

• Champ Camp Annual overnight summer camp for youth burn survivors ages 5-17 held at Wonder Valley Ranch in Sanger, CA, providing healing, recreational activities, and community building.
• Young Adult Summit (YAS) Multi-day summit for young adult burn survivors ages 16-20 featuring workshops, mentorship, peer support, and recreational activities.
• Adult Retreat Annual retreat for adult burn survivors ages 21+ featuring workshops, art therapy, peer support, and community building at Camp Ocean Pines.
• Women's Empowerment Weekend Weekend retreat for women burn survivors ages 21+ held at Pali Mountain Retreat in Running Springs, CA, focusing on empowerment and connection.
• Under 5 Program Program for families with burn survivors ages 5 and under, including Monterey Bay Aquarium family outings, fire station tours, and parent support groups.
• Support Groups In-person and virtual support groups for burn survivors and families held at various California medical centers including LA General, Fresno CRMC, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and UCSF Saint Francis.
• Woody and Louise Reed Bridge to Life Scholarship Scholarship program for burn survivors or immediate family members pursuing post-secondary education at community college, college, university, or trade school.
• Firefighters in Safety Education (FISE) Burn prevention education program delivered by firefighters to elementary school students, reaching over 30,000 students annually.
• N.I.C.K. Program Neurotypical/diverse Independent Communication Kit for fire and burn safety education, with specialized lessons including Toys vs Tools for neurodivergent learners.
• Wildfire P.R.E.P.A.R.E. Wildfire preparedness program reaching households in Fresno County and expanding to Riverside County, helping residents prepare for wildfire safety.
• SOAR Peer Support Training Training program for burn survivors to become peer supporters, enabling them to visit burn units and provide support to current patients.
• What Now Workshop Workshop series for burn survivors and caregivers discussing recovery next steps and creating achievable goals.
• AARBF Dinner & Dance Annual Event Annual fundraising dinner and dance event, with the 16th annual scheduled for September 26, 2026 at Clovis Rodeo Grounds.
• Central Valley Firefighters Burn Relay Annual relay event where fire departments travel across the Central Valley raising funds for Champ Camp.

Quantifiable outcome

• 769+ survivors and families served through camps and recreation in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Arrowhead Regional Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical center partnership for burn survivor support services and referral network
• Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeon S. Peters Burn Unit partnership; hosts monthly support group; holiday party venue; CRMC staff participate in fundraising events
• Dignity HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partnership for burn survivor services
• Santa Clara Valley Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurn unit partnership; hosts monthly support group; staff attend American Burn Association conferences
• Shriners Hospital for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPediatric burn care partnership for child survivors
• Torrance Memorial Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurn unit partnership; annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser generates $14,000+ for Champ Camp
• UC Davis HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partnership for burn survivor support
• UC Irvine HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurn care partnership; staff attend conferences representing AARBF
• UC San Diego HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partnership for burn survivor services
• UCSF Health Saint Francis HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBothin Burn Unit partnership; hosts monthly support group; 85+ guests at annual holiday party
• Fresno Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFire agency partnership; hosts Fresno Urban Run, chili cook-off, Central Valley Burn Relay finish; fire academy partnerships
• CAL FIREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState fire agency partnership; multiple units participate in Burn Relay; fundraising support
• Central Valley Firefighters Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial partner sponsoring Central Valley Burn Relay luncheon, Chili Cook-off, and Dinner & Dance; raised $4,035 for Champ Camp 2026
• Children's Burn FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern California holiday party partnership; toy donations; co-attend American Burn Association conference
• Phoenix SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurn foundation partnership; support for World Burn Congress; co-attend conferences
• Camp Ocean PinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner55+ year partnership; venue for Young Adult Summit and Adult Retreat; recognized AARBF as Legacy Champion 2025
• Pyramid Educational ConsultantssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdded 'Toys vs Tools' lesson to N.I.C.K. Program for neurodivergent community
• Monterey Bay AquariumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder 5 Program partner; provides free tickets through Free to Learn program; hosts family events
• Angel Flight WestsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides transportation services for survivors needing to attend programs
• PG&EsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiablo Canyon Fire Department partnership; community sponsor
• Kiwanis Club of ClovissecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides cash bar at Dinner & Dance and donates proceeds to AARBF; $2,000 donated in 2024
• Bakersfield Firefighters Burn FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamp Camp sponsor; hosts Light Up the Night fundraiser; send survivors to Champ Camp and World Burn Congress
• Wind and Fire Motorcycle ClubsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamp Camp sponsor; fundraising support
• Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamp Camp sponsor from Nevada region

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Burn Foundation: National nonprofit offering burn prevention education and survivor services; AARBF overlaps with this organization in mission and similar camp/retreat programming.
• Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors: National nonprofit dedicated to peer support and recovery for burn survivors; AARBF collaborates with Phoenix Society on World Burn Congress and shares the survivor-services mission.
• Children's Burn Foundation: Southern California-based nonprofit providing burn survivor services and prevention education; AARBF partners with them on holiday parties and co-attends American Burn Association conferences.

Others

• American Burn Association: Professional association for burn care providers; AARBF staff regularly attend its conferences, and it serves as an industry body connecting burn foundations and medical professionals.
• CAL FIRE: California state fire agency; AARBF partners with CAL FIRE for Burn Relay fundraising and wildfire preparedness programs, making it a key ecosystem participant.
• Camp Ocean Pines: California camp venue that has hosted AARBF's Young Adult Summit and Adult Retreat for 55+ years; serves as a critical infrastructure partner for the foundation's camp programs.

Broad incumbents

• International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF): National firefighters union with charitable arms; AARBF's fire department partner network mirrors IAFF's structure, and many local IAFF affiliates raise funds for AARBF.
• Shriners Hospitals for Children: Large healthcare system with pediatric burn care; AARBF partners with Shriners for pediatric survivor referrals and shares the pediatric burn survivor target population.

Regional players

• Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation: Regional burn foundation in Nevada sponsoring Champ Camp; comparable model combining fire department fundraising with burn survivor support programs.
• Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation: Regional burn foundation in Kern County, CA; collaborates with AARBF to send survivors to Champ Camp and co-hosts fundraisers like Light Up the Night.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtnp2WrjMSOJhvC9EQaIeFQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlisaAnnRuchBurnFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/aarbf/?hl=en
• Xx.com/aarbf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alisa-ann-ruch-burn-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation