ANSWERING THE CALL FOR A F IRE SAFE AND BURN FREE WISCONSIN

2016 BURN CAMP

REPORT

Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation

JANUARY 2017

THE

NEWSLETTER

PFFWCF CHAIRMAN

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Thank You

2 Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation

I never cease to be amazed by the forward momentum of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation (PFFWCF). We have added new opportunities for burn survivors, fire prevention programs, support programs for fire fighters, as well as numerous initiatives to strengthen Wisconsin communities. We are not slowing down. We have welcomed passionate people into new roles to help us maintain and enhance the important work we do. We have also brought in several new supporters to ensure that our mission and programs are sustainable and our mission to promote, encourage, and foster fire safety and burn prevention is executed successfully. John Niederer, Fire Chief in the Town of Bristol, as well as two of our brothers from Milwaukee Professional Fire Fighters Local 215, Scott Hall and Scott Van Roo (retired), were added to our PFFWCF Board of Directors. All three have been longtime supporters of the Summer Camp for Burn Injured Youth and the foundation for many years. Chief Niederer was one of the pioneers in creating the Firefighters 4 Charity group that has provided thousands of dollars to the Burn Camp and other local charities for years. This year, in addition to continuing their role in Local 215’s Packer Party to support camp, Hall and Van Roo wanted to do even more. Hall now serves on our membership committee and Van Roo kicked off a new annual Burn Camp fundraiser, “Van Roo Fest,” to celebrate his marriage to his wife, Carla. Local 215 surprised us again when President Dave Seager presented us with an additional sponsorship check of $25,000. What a showing of support!In addition to our new board members, we made one other change in our leadership structure. After a series of interviews with the PFFWCF Executive Committee and an unbiased panel of professionals, it was with great pride that we offered the role of Executive Director to Mike Wos in September 2016. We noticed Mike’s community contributions early in his career as a fire fighter/paramedic with the City of Oshkosh and Professional Firefighters of Oshkosh, Local 316. Mike was also the Executive Director and one of the founding trustees of the Oshkosh Fire Fighters Charitable Trust. He began his work on the PFFWCF Board of Directors in January 2015 and since that time we have been consistently impressed by his work ethic and attention to detail. Mike will carry out our foundation’s mission with guidance from Mike DeGarmo – the Charitable Foundation Liaison to the PFFW Executive Board, and with assistance from Jenna Jordan, our Program Director.As our team continues to grow, we will continue to expand and diversify our programming. The need is great and our challenges are many but with the resources, help, and support of dedicated people, our success is guaranteed. I have been moved by the great work we have accomplished and I look forward to the strides we will make.

Mahlon Mitchell, ChairmanProfessional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation

PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS OF WISCONSIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

The Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation, Inc., (“PFFWCF”) is a 501(c) (3) organization.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MAHLON MITCHELL I Chairman

STEVE WILDING I Vice-Chairman

MICHAEL WOODZICKA I Director

MICHAEL DEGARMO I Director

MATT SIMPSON I Director

DAN GENGLER I Director

MICHAEL HAFEMAN I Director

JIM HIRSCH I Director

DAVE BOSANKO I Director

SCOTT VAN ROO I Director

SCOTT HALL I Director

STAFF

MICHAEL J. WOS I Executive Director

JENNA JORDAN I Program Director

321 MAIN STREET, SUITE 200 MADISON, WI 53703 I 608-630-8440

Send us your event pics!jenna@pffwcf.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

I am incredibly humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve and advance the mission of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation (PFFWCF). The mission of the PFFWCF is “to promote, encourage, and foster fire prevention, burn prevention, and fire safety education. We support burn survivors of all ages and host the Summer Camp for Burn Injured Youth.” Our vision is to create a FIRE SAFE and BURN FREE Wisconsin. We are extremely grateful because we are surrounded by great people who share our passion and belief in the core values of public service, dedication, compassion, and courage that is the embodiment of what this organization is and always has been. The PFFWCF provides world class programs that serve the people of Wisconsin. Some of which we absorbed when taking on the former Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety, some came from PFFW Charities, and some we are working to develop. In all, we have four areas of programming; Burn Survivor, Fire Prevention, Fire Fighter Support, and Community Support Programs. Our Program Director, Jenna Jordan does an excellent job seeing that our programs are of the highest quality, are mission driven, and are continuously improving to meet the needs of those we serve. This past October also represented the 29th anniversary of a series of tragic events in the history of the Wisconsin fire service. In a 15 day period between September 30th and October 15th, 1987 twenty people lost their lives in fire, including 17 children. These events and many like it were the catalyst to start the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety (WAFS). Over the next 27 years, the WAFS would grow to become a successful charity offering multiple burn survivor and fire prevention programs - including the Summer Camp for Burn Injured Youth that has since provided over 1500 summer camp experiences to young burn survivors ages 7-17. Burn Camp provides young burn survivors with a sense community, the opportunity to heal, and the support needed to build confidence to overcome the physical and emotional scarring caused by their burn injuries. The WAFS also established nationally recognized fire prevention programs like

Newspapers in Education - a special fire safety edition inserted into the Sunday Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that kicks off Fire Prevention Week every year. Planning is underway for the 20th Anniversary Edition in 2017. In 2015, the PFFWCF absorbed the WAFS with the promise to maintain all of the programming moving forward. It has been almost two years and we are happy to report we have not only maintained the WAFS’s great programming but are working to grow the programs.None of this would be possible without your support and without your belief in this organization. We have accomplished a lot, however we have a long way to go to create a fire safe and burn free Wisconsin. Almost all the fires are preventable. However, we constantly hear about people dying in fires and many more suffering injuries. The job is not done and with your support we will continue to work until it is. We have many opportunities for you to help our cause, please contact us for more information about our programs, volunteer opportunities, charitable giving, or our upcoming events. Thank you again for allowing me this opportunity to serve this organization, for all the great things you do, and for your support of the PFFWCF. We wish you a safe and prosperous 2017.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Wos

Meet our new Executive Director

January 2017 3

PROGRAM DIRECTOR REPORT

4 Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation

2016 was full of surprises for the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation (PFFWCF)! We carried out our usual programs and added a few new ones. We are thankful to a number of people from our group of supporters who contributed in new ways to make it a wonderful year. My primary objective in taking the program director position two years ago was making sure that the spirit of the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety was kept alive under the leadership of the PFFWCF. With the help of our board of directors, volunteers, and loyal supporters, I believe we have done just that. Our 2016 Burn Survivor Support Programs were all impactful and successful. The PFFWCF created a relationship with The Roger Pepper Adventure Camp in Crested Butte, Colorado and were able to send two of our teen burn survivors to attend their winter camp in January. In February, we hosted our “Positive Self-Image and Healthy Choices” themed Winter Leadership Program for survivors ages 17-24. Through our foundation, one of our Burn Camp campers was connected with Fireman Rob who was able to coordinate a trip to Walt Disney World for her and her family in March. We also sponsored a group of community leaders and survivors to attend the Wise Foundation Young Adult Burn Survivor Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma in April. In July, we invited our survivors ages 14+ to ride in the Bike 4 Boys & Girls Club Charity Bike Ride as a challenge program. Of course, in August the Summer Camp for Burn Injured Youth was taking place but this year we added the Young Adult Leadership Program (YALP) and continued our Burn Camp Explorers Program during the same week! Finally, we sponsored a group of adult survivors to attend the Phoenix Society’s World Burn Congress in Providence, Rhode Island in October.While we believe the above mentioned support programs are of the utmost importance, we also strive to provide education throughout the state of Wisconsin with the intention of preventing fires and avoiding traumatic burn injuries. Our Fire Prevention and Safety initiatives over the past year have included expanding the age range of the student recipients of the Fire Safety Edition of Newspapers in Education to include eighth graders (previously only fourth-seventh graders received the paper), taking a stronger leading role in the Wisconsin Smoke Alarm Fire Education (WisSAFE) Coalition which issued more than 13,000 smoke alarms to over 200 fire departments for distribution in their communities. We also support Survive Alive, mobile trailers and permanent structures which teach our youth how to safely escape a burning building. In October, we held our Fall Fire Safety Recognition Luncheon to acknowledge organizations and individuals who had worked especially hard to keep Wisconsin fire safe and burn free. With support from our luncheon honorees and many others, we will continue to dispense life and property saving information to Wisconsin citizens of all ages.Furthermore, our community support efforts have begun to complement our fire safety and burn survivor support programs. We now proudly support firefighter welfare programs – especially for those who have been diagnosed with line of duty cancer and other ailments. We also support communities and enhance

the great things fire fighters do for their communities like MDA, Operation Warm – Coats for Kids, Safety Blitz – Child ID, and disaster relief. We want to do all we can to make sure that all Wisconsin communities are healthy, happy, and most of all, safe.All of the new PFFWCF programming is a reflection of some longstanding goals of our founders. They are valuable to the communities we live in and have helped to make a real difference, but the fact that we have been able to implement them is the result of passion, hard work, and vision from people of all walks of life. We are able to carry out our mission with support from a community of amazing people who assist the organization in innumerable and often untold ways – from volunteers, to private donors, to organizational donors, to friends. We cannot thank you enough!

Jenna Jordan, Program Director

Diverse, Successful Programs Making a Difference

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Young Adult Burn Survivor Conference 2016:The Wise Foundation once again hosted the Fifth Annual Young Adult Burn Survivor Conference (YABC) April 14-17 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This conference is for survivors ages 16-20 as well as community leaders who learn from workshops to bring back information to their own Burn Survivor Support Programs. This year we were able to bring four young survivors that have graduated from our Burn Camp and Community Leaders: Tina Jordan (Camp Nurse), Melissa Kersten (Camp Co-Director), and Jenna Jordan (Program Director). Kersten shared, “Each day was filled with not only educational sessions for the community leaders but also time to reflect on why we are involved in the burn survivor community. We also had the opportunity to network with community leaders from several other states, sharing stories and tips about what our local burn survivor organizations can do to help empower these incredible survivors. The experience left me humbled by each survivor’s willingness to be open and share some of their most important moments.” We have enjoyed sending a small group of Wisconsin burn survivors to this event to challenge them and to help them see that their burn survivor community extends far beyond our state. We believe so much in this program that we have decided to be the presenting sponsor for it March 16-19, 2017. Not only that but we are moving it to Madison, Wisconsin! We will be partnering with the Wise Foundation to create a brand new experience for these survivors. As one of the benefits of the dual funding and resources, we are able to expand the age range to make sure that survivors do not lose their network of support as they age. We are welcoming new and returning attendees from all around the United States. We have already received help from the UW Burn Center and several other sponsors to make this an unforgettable weekend for all of our attendees.

First time attendee, Nina De Lude, also wanted to share her thoughts on the conference:The Young Adult Burn Survivor Conference was such an eye opening experience for me. It was my first year attending this event and I am beyond thankful that I got to experience it. The four day conference was full of “get to know you” activities, as well as motivational speakers, and even life lessons. As a burn survivor of only about three years, I am still new to all that accompanies being a survivor. This young adult conference helped open me up even more and allowed me to meet more survivors with whom I made real connections. I am generally a very shy person until I get to know someone, but right off the bat I felt welcomed and knew that these were people that I wanted to know more. Charles was a speaker who shared a message about Hope that was incredibly inspiring. The part of his talk that I liked and enjoyed most was when he said, “Don’t let anyone take away your hope, including yourself.” That really hit home for me and has given me the push I needed to make some very important decisions regarding my future. I am so thankful to Jenna Jordan, The PFFW Charitable Foundation, The Wise Foundation, and all of the contributors that help make this conference which I had the pleasure of attending happen. It is absolutely a life-changing conference!- Nina De Lude

Bike 4 Boys & Girls Club Ride 2016Typically, each year we team up with Lon Haldeman to offer a biking challenge program to our 14+ year-old burn survivors, but this past summer we had too many conflicts to plan it together. This year, as we were unable to host the full week-long tour, we opted to offer our survivors a shot at riding in an 8-, 25-, or 50-mile bike ride fundraiser hosted by the Boys & Girls Club on July 16, 2016. Doing this, the participants were able to join the challenge program as well as feel good about raising funds for another reputable non-profit. A member of Lon’s team, Byron Gremley and his daughter Kelly helped us to raise funds to join the ride and led the 25-mile race for half of the group while the other half mustered up the courage to brave the 50-mile ride! We hope to hold the full bike tour for 2017, but this was a great substitution and we will keep you posted on upcoming plans.

January 2017 5

NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION

2016 Awards TourIn October 2015 we distributed our “Fire Escape Plan” themed edition of Newspapers In Education in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The paper includes articles on fire prevention and safety as well as activities for teachers, students and parents. PFFWCF Program Director, Jenna Jordan along with Fire Prevention Officer Lori Wirth, Lt. Bauer, and other firefighters from the Madison Fire Department spent an afternoon judging fire safety themed posters submitted by 4th-7th grade students across Wisconsin. The posters reflected a fire safety message to show what students learned from the newspaper. Eight special prizes were awarded based on selections made by this group of fire safety experts. The poster winners were awarded with their own framed posters and Kohl’s gift cards.Teachers also had an opportunity to write an essay about how they used the newspapers and other resources to prepare their students and teach lessons in fire safety. Six awards were given for the best essays in the form of $1,500 and $500 checks. In March of 2016 Executive Director, Mike Wos and Program Director Jenna Jordan traveled the state to make award presentations. During the presentations, local firefighters were invited to assist in offering a fire safety lesson to the classrooms and check in on how much the students remembered from the newspapers!

ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS --------------------------------------$1,500 Winners: Lynn Wagner, West Milwaukee Intermediate School Janice Dadian-Posda, Carrollton Elementary School in Oak Creek$500 Winners: Coleen Pember, Tiffany Creek Elementary School, Boyceville Rachel Kreibich, North Woods International School, La Crosse Lori Bongert, Rio Elementary School in Rio Jenna Zeutzius of Weyauwega-Fremont in Weyauwega

POSTER CONTEST WINNERS ------------------------------------Grand Prize: Ava H., Mondovi Elementary1st Prize: Emily H., Fox River Middle School;

Jacob A., Whitnall Middle School2nd Prize: Carmen B., Cambria-Friesland Middle School;

Alice E., L.B. Clark Middle SchoolHonorable Mentions:

Alondra G., Cambria-Friesland Middle School Kenzie G., L.B. Clark Middle School Mitchell G., Winneconne Elementary School

In early 2017 we will tour for the 2016 edition that focused on smoke alarms. We were especially excited to receive new sponsorship and expand to offer 8th graders the opportunity to receive the educational newspaper. We are already receiving poster submissions for our 2017 awards tour and we cannot wait to read the teacher essays!

Carrollton Elementary School

North Woods International School in La Crosse

Winneconne Elementary

West Milwaukee Intermediate

FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM

Weyauwega-Fremont in Weyauwega

6 Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation

Cambria-Friesland Middle School Fox River Middle School

Rio Elementary School L.B. Clark Middle School

North Woods International School in La Crosse

Summer Camp for Burn Injured Youth It was another great year of Burn Camp! This year’s theme was “Be A Survivor,” to reinforce the language of referencing the campers as “Burn Survivors” rather than “Burn Victims.” After a full year’s preparation by the Burn Camp Steering Committee (BCSC) and collaboration with several individuals and organizations, we were pleased to share a 22nd year of unique activities with our campers.

2016

We are Survivors!

continued

DAY 1Our schedule began on Sunday, August 14 with a “Welcome Back” Ceremony where we declared our mixed “Amazing Race” teams – campers and staff were split into teams to complete daily individual and team-based challenges throughout the week. Following the ceremony our campers dressed in donated clothing, accessories, and silly costumes and had their faces painted by Brittany Esser to get ready to dance to music provided by DJ Todd Dettmering and his family.DAY 2Volunteers from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, led by Stephanie Clayton provided a full morning’s activities for our campers including writing a camp song! Campers then decorated colored bandanas to identify with their teams and got whipped into shape with “Burn Camp Boot Camp,” led by Judd Sweitzer. We were pleased to host a local hero, Chris Cook, as a speaker for our teens while our youth campers were led in a yoga practice by volunteers from YogaOne Studio.

DAY 3All of the campers had an opportunity to take a tethered hot air balloon ride offered by Wind Dancer Balloons in the early morning followed by some of the fun activities that Timber-lee staff shares with us. After that, campers dressed in their team colors to run the Amazing Race challenge course together! This was a fun, silly, messy compilation of eating challenges, coordination, wit, and relay style fun put together by our BCSC and volunteer activities staff. Later, our youth girls’ cabin offered their services with the Pavilion Salon with makeup, nail polish, and hair products to doll up the rest of the campers and staff. With flashy new makeovers, we were all ready to greet the 100+ motorcycles led by the Kettle Moraine HOG Chapter for a brat and corn roast as well as some rides for the campers. DAY 4The older teens left campus on Wednesday for their offsite trip to the Harley Museum (admission donated by Brian & Justine Bieganski) and several other Milwaukee area attractions including lunch at Barnacle Bud’s offered at a discounted rate to our camp group. While the teens were away, the rest of the camp

enjoyed a Life Casting hand mold activity prepared by former camper, Jessica Graf, and projects with a volunteer group from Columbia-St. Mary’s Hospital. All of the campers and staff were able to finish their day with massages from American Massage Therapy Association volunteers.DAY 5Visitor’s Day for families and other camp supporters. We began the day handing out dog tags donated by Leading Edge Promotions before our Parade of Apparatus, led for the last time by longtime supporter Ross Marshall. Marshall will be missed in his organizational leadership role, but has assured us that camp will continue to live in his heart and mind. Everyone enjoyed the display leading into the lunch prepared by Robb Bosanko and friends. The day was fun and exciting, especially as the carnival opened and Greenfield Firefighters and Fire & Iron Clubs foamed the slip ‘n’ slide! DAY 6Our last full day of camp. Although weather kept our teens from their annual trip to Phantom Ranch the morning was full of fun activities. Cathy Lueder coordinated a visit from therapy dogs and their owners, and WCTC cosmetology students donated their time offering makeovers before our trip to the East Troy Fire Department for a meal and a karaoke party. The ETFD celebration is always a fun lead-up activity to our closing ceremony for the graduating campers and the Bartolotta donated fireworks display!

Snacks and meals were donated throughout the week by Jay Peartree of Fire & Iron 37, West Allis Fire Department, North Prairie Auxiliary, Sable Flames & Madison Local 311 Charities, Tess Corners, Oshkosh Fire Fighters Charitable Trust, Wauwatosa Fire Department, PFFW, Oak Creek Professional Fire Fighters Local 1848, East Troy Fire Department, Bernatello’s Pizza, Coliseum Bar & Grill, Engelhardt Dairy, Hubbard Avenue Diner, Robert’s Frozen Custard, Starbuck’s (27th & Morgan), UW Burn Center, and the Wisconsin Baker’s Association. Additional materials, transportation and other logistical help before, during, and after camp were provided by Bell Ambulance, Al Jansen and the Milwaukee Fire Academy, Julie Schley & family, Appleton Trophies, Avalon Graphics, Mike Kanter, Madison Firefighter volunteers, UW Burn Center volunteers, Chris Borman, Fire & Iron MC 17, 37, 131, & 141, Flight for Life, UW Med Flight, WI State Army Aviation Office, The Horton Group, Jenney Rott, Kohl’s Cares, Monlycke Health, Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling, Troy Center Firefighters, Willy Ellertson, and of course, Camp Timber-lee. There are also many others who requested that we keep their charitable involvement anonymous and others who provided help or donations spontaneously. We hope to offer them credit in the future. THANK YOU ALL!

“It’s a special type of camp we look forward to every year. Everybody is very nice and accommodating.”

“Camp provided a much needed break for me as a single parent and it helps foster my daughter’s appreciation of me as a mother and caregiver.”

“Camp is a great place for a child to be a kid and not be looked it as different. Staff is great, caring, friendly, and remember you every year.”

SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF ALL AGES

ADDITIONAL BURN CAMP PROGRAMS This year was our second year running the Burn Camp Explorers Program (BCE) in conjunction with the Burn Camp for young survivors, ages 3+ who are not old enough or not at a point in their treatment where they can attend the full week of camp. We hope to introduce these young children to the community at an early age and instill confidence in their parents to leave their children in our care for the full camp week when they come of age. Participants and their parents are able to join the staff for a meet and greet and a tour that helps parents and children become comfortable with the volunteer staff and the camp setting. They also get to join in a craft activity so that they’re able to bring their camp memories home with them. We had two young participants this year and one of them liked the camp so much that he opted to stay with us for the rest of the week!

In addition to the BCE Program, we added a Young Adult Leadership Program (YALP) for survivors, ages 18-21, to do job shadowing work with camp staff and take workshop courses to help them with financial independence and offer them valuable life skills. The program is selective and only able to accommodate participants with a serious interest in improving their leadership skills to become better Burn Camp counselors and better adults in the real world. Courtney Hull and Sam Paulinski were our YALP Directors, both put an astounding amount of work into building the rotating curriculum and the activities associated with this year’s program. With the unremitting growth of our organization, we continue to pursue our goal to make sure that our young survivors stay involved with the community and prepare themselves for leadership roles in all aspects of life.

Samantha Paton (20) was one of our former campers who joined us for the inaugural year of this program. She wrote the PFFWCF a letter after the program and told us,

“The YALP taught me valuable lessons in developing self-confidence, professional development, financial planning, and the importance of goal setting. I even had the opportunity to plan and lead a youth activity. This experience reminded me how important giving back to others, especially young burn survivors, means to me. My dream is to return to Burn Camp as a counselor and become a positive role model to campers, just as my counselors were for me.”

We cannot wait to expand and continue this new and valuable program. These young adults are truly our future!

“I think it is special that there is place where their burns don’t matter and they can concentrate on having fun.”

“My son has made lifelong friendships that he looks forward to reconnecting with every year.”

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World Burn CongressThis past October, we along with Columbia-St. Mary’s Burn Center, were able to sponsor a group of burn survivors and supporters to attend the Phoenix Society’s World Burn Congress. This most recent conference was held in Providence, Rhode Island and, with the help of our generous donors, we were able to send 10 attendees. The Phoenix Society offers support to burn survivors of all ages and the most prominent example of that support is displayed at the World Burn Congress each year. Roughly 1,000 burn survivors, family members, fire fighters, and medical & psychological professionals are brought together for this life changing experience. During the early years of our foundation, much of the support we were able to offer survivors was restricted to our Summer Camp for Burn Injured Youth, which serves survivors ages 7-17. Through the growth of our support network, we have been able to offer programming specific to young adults and beyond. It has been amazing to reunite former campers with their burn survivor community after years away from the Burn Camp through sponsorship of this program. Latoya Eskridge was burned on 73% of her body as a three year old child in a house fire. In addition to the many challenges we all face while growing up, she has undergone over 100 reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries. She became a part of our burn survivor community when she joined us as a Burn Camp camper at only seven years old. Now, 28, she still has access to her burn survivor support network through the PFFWCF. She is sponsored by the PFFWCF to attend the Phoenix Society’s World Burn Congress and speaks on behalf of the foundation frequently. When asked about her experience at World Burn Congress, she told us:

IAFF International Burn CampOnce again, we sent one of our Burn Camp campers along with a counselor to the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Camp in Washington D.C. The free special camp experience is offered to 13-15 year old Burn Camp campers from around the United States and Canada. Our camp staff votes on the eligible teens at the end of each Wisconsin Burn Camp. Last September, we were pleased to send a fifteen year old camper named Abby. She had never flown in an airplane by herself and had never been to the East Coast. Along with Abby, we sent camp staff member of 18 years, Suzanne Hotz. Suzanne works at the Columbia-St. Mary’s Burn Center and has a special connection to burn survivors through her many years of experience. These two have shared their thoughts below.

IAFF Camper ExperienceBy: Abby MielkieThank you to everyone who made it a dream come true to attend International Burn Camp. I have been attending the Wisconsin Burn Camp for many years and have learned so much every year. I have made friends and most important, have accepted what happened to me. Attending the Burn Camp in DC was the most amazing thing that could come of being a burn survivor. While in DC, I visited national monuments and learned so much about history. I also met other survivors from other states and we talked about all the great things we do at our yearly burn camps. I will always remember my experience and am grateful to have been chosen to go to DC.

IAFF Staff ExperienceBy: Suzanne HotzNothing can compare to the experiences I had in Washington DC. From the beauty of Camp Wabanna, to the people I came to know very quickly. It was and will be one of the best weeks of my life. It is difficult to choose a “favorite” of all that I saw and experienced but I would have to say that Arlington and George Washington’s home were interesting and very moving. All the places we went were amazing but they would not have been nearly as interesting or fun if not for the group Abby and I went everywhere with. Learning their stories and about their lives outside of camp brought us very close very quickly and I will never forget them sharing with us.

I love the World Burn Congress, it recharges me to face my every day life. Growing up, I didn’t live in the best neighborhood and my family lost almost everything in the fire that caused my injuries so we didn’t have much money. The Burn Camp was my safe place when I was young, I did so many things I never thought I’d get a chance to try – whether it was because of my injuries or because I didn’t have the means. When I graduated at 17, I felt like I was leaving a little part of me behind because I wasn’t able to become staff. For years, I was in a very dark place. Even though I maintained some contact with other survivors and camp staff it was harder to reunite in person like

we did at camp. When I rejoined Columbia-St. Mary’s Burn Support Group as an adult, I found out that the PFFWCF and CSM sponsor adults like me to attend the World Burn Congress. I didn’t know what to expect when I went for the first time but now that I’ve been there, I’m hooked! Each year,

I meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. The conference reminds me that there are so many others like me and that I really am a survivor. My involvement with programs like this has given me confidence and inspired me to share my story with others any opportunity I get. I want to help others, especially kids, who have gone through the things that I have. I’m thankful to CSM and the people who donate to the PFFWCF so that burn survivors are able to experience World Burn Congress. It’s a life changing conference that all burn survivors should get the opportunity to attend. Thank you!

January 2017 11

Winter Leadership Program 2016The Winter Leadership Program is a post-Burn Camp conference for burn survivor participants, ages 17-25. This year, we held the program February 5-7, 2016. Our theme was Positive Self-Image and Healthy Choices and we had 25 participants and six volunteer staff join us for the program.We opened our program with assigning “meal prep teams” for all of the meals we shared throughout the weekend and our first team got started making spaghetti and meatballs for the crew! Our other meals included homemade quiches, tacos, and french toast, yum!We had Tommy Pickens, a motivational speaker and friend to the Alliance for Fire Safety from California to share his wisdom on physical, mental, and spiritual health. He shared some of his words to live by with our group: “Eagles aren’t made to hang with chickens” – the phrase meaning that we are all born to be eagles that soar and follow whatever path we choose but sometimes we let fear turn us into chickens that “never leave to coop.” These chickens can be negative and scare us from our dreams so we need to keep our bodies and minds strong enough to keep up with what we truly want in life.We also had some volunteers Gwen, Catherine, and Andy from YogaOne Studio in Fox Point teach our participants some yoga basics to help quiet the mind and bring strength to the body. They even donated mats so that our participants could take their new practice home. It was a first time experience for many of our participants and it was so much fun!We also split our group to volunteer at The Hope House for battered women and children and Habitat for Humanity’s Re-Store in Baraboo. Hope House volunteers helped put together a craft project for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and cleaned up snow and other areas of the shelter. Participants that went to the Re-Store, helped move and organize building supplies. Both groups had a great time and also got to experience what it feels like to give back.We were thrilled to have such a great turn out and to have our programming so well received. Thank you to all of our volunteers!

In November, I had the privilege of attending the 2016 International Association of Burn Camps (IABC) biennial workshop hosted by the Alisha Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF) in California. The workshop was held at Wonder Valley Ranch in Sanger, CA, the same location as the host foundations’ summer burn camp “Champ Camp.” We arrived at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in the early afternoon and stepped into a balmy California fall day. After lunch and a quick Uber adventure through the outskirts of Fresno, we met with a group of other attendees back at the airport awaiting the shuttle. We were greeted by Daniel Chacon, better known by his camp name, Apollo, the regional program director of AARBF and the organizer of this year’s workshop. After introductions we were loaded on a bus headed for Wonder Valley Ranch. Upon our arrival we were greeted with smiles and open arms like old friends even though many of us had never met before. The rest of the evening was filled with unpacking, mingling, the arrival of additional guests, an omnifarious dinner, and a few “ice breakers.” The following three days boasted a loaded and rich schedule. Each morning began with a presentation by the workshop’s keynote speakers, James Bosch and Cindy Rutter, both of whom are burn survivors. Afternoons included multiple break-out sessions covering a myriad of current topics affecting the camping community. Every evening finished off the day with a social event allowing time for networking, discussion, and most of all, fun. The IABC’s biennial workshop offers a fantastic opportunity for the numerous camps across the United States and Canada to gather in one place to share their resources with the burn survivor community in an effort to provide the best possible camp experience to every child across the continent. The information gathered at the IABC will be invaluable to the AFS Burn Camp as we continue to enrich our programming and offer new support for our camp “framily.” With a gathering of so many extraordinary people it is impossible not to be infected with motivation and optimism. I am very excited to bring what we learned back to our camp in 2017 and look forward to another fantastic year. Jesse Schwark, Youth Boys Coordinator Burn Camp Volunteer Staff

Enriching Burn Survivor Support Programs

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BURN CAMPS

For the first time ever, two of our burn survivors were offered an opportunity to attend The Roger Pepper Adventure Camp for Burn Survivors in Crested Butte, Colorado. This event was held January 10, 2016, and was only open to a very select group of survivors, it was an honor to have Wisconsin participants selected to attend. Participants bonded with other survivors, sharing their stories while learning how to ski and snowboard. One of our participants, Eli, wrote us a heartfelt letter describing his experience and thanking us for the opportunity. “This camp was able to show me on the first day to not give up. When you fall down, you gotta get up and keep going. Every trainer was so supportive; when we would fail doing new things during snowboarding or skiing they would be right there to encourage us to try again. Although it was a fun experience doing activities, we learned a lot about ourselves that we did not know. A prime example would be for me and a glass shower. For the first time since being burned in a shower with glass doors, I was able to step into one that was similar to the one that I was burned in. It was a blessing that the Roger Pepper Camp had this for me to overcome my biggest fear. I told my counselor that I did this and he gave me a big hug and told me how proud he was of me! Even though I was only there for a week at the camp I was able to meet new friends, make dinner, become a family member with

another burn camp, and lastly get over the fear of glass showers. I was thankful to be able to have such an amazing experience at the Roger Pepper Camp but I would have never been able to go if it were not for PFFW Charitable Foundation. Thank you for thinking of me and then connecting me to this camp. It was a blessing to be given the opportunity and an all paid trip.”We also connected with Fireman Rob Foundation who wanted our help in sending a young burn survivor to Walt Disney World through the foundation he had created. We got him in contact with Brooke because we simply couldn’t think of a more deserving princess for the trip! He was willing to share a bit about his history:“I started the Fireman Rob Foundation back in 2013 to follow a passion of mine and make an impact on this world. The foundation uses the acronym S.M.I.L.E., which means, Simple Moments Impact Lives Every day. This was the premise behind the primary mission of the Fireman Rob Foundation, which is to deliver Gund teddy bears to children in hospitals and in disadvantaged situations all over the world. It’s meant to provide a simple smile or moment in which the pain does not exist. Last year the Fireman Rob Foundation, in partnering with Travel On A Dream and Southwest Airlines, created the Gift of Magic Project. This was aimed at sending a very deserving child, who had

been affected by traumatic burns, to Walt Disney World with their family (all expenses paid). In the process, I reached out to the PFFWCF and along with their support came to the decision that our first recipient would be Brooke. She had been through so much in her life and was a shining example of making the best of your life no matter what challenges are thrown in your way. She is an ambassador in her everyday life of what the Fireman Rob Foundation is message is... live your passion!”Brooke and her family had been through so much since her initial injury. The PFFWCF and several other organizations and individuals helped the family raise money for a new prosthetic ear for her just prior to this past year’s camp. They were all thrilled to have been selected for the trip and Brooke wrote to us to tell us about it:“Hi, my name is Brooke Karper and I was burned in a house fire when I was 14 months old. I was given a trip to Disney World from the Fireman Rob Foundation and Travel on a Dream. I got to bring three people so I brought my mom, dad, and cousin Lily. My favorite part of the trip was going to the Bippity Boppity Boutique and having our hair, nails and makeup done. Then we got to put on princess dresses and eat dinner in the castle with the princesses. We had a lot of fun on all the rides and getting autographs from the princesses.”

12 Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation

SURVIVOR SPOTLIGHTS Eli & BrookeEvery newsletter we feature a spotlight on an amazing survivor who has earned special opportunities through their involvement with the PFFWCF. For this edition we are featuring two inspirational survivors.

Memories and Magic

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

January 2017 13

(left to right) Burn Survivor Latoya Eskridge supported by her family at the Firefighter’s Ball; Chairman Mahlon Mitchell and Executive Director Mike Wos addressing guests; Elizabeth Nelson and Vince Vitrano presenting live auction items; Mike Wos, Steve Wilding, and Mike Wilding enjoying the night

Steve Wilding, Mahlon Mitchell, and Mike Woodzicka at the Madison Police & Fire Ball; Kohl’s Associates in action supports the Madison Local 311 Packer Party; Rise Christesen, Jim Hirsch, Laurie Laz, Jesse Laz-Hirsch, Jenna Jordan - PFFWCF Directors are humbled by the longtime support from Paul Davis Restoration of South Central Wisconsin; Flyght Cycle hosted a fundraiser for PFFWCF Burn Survivor Support Programs

New Berlin Fire Fighters Charity Golf Outing for MDA; Oak Creek Local 1848 Firefighters collecting toys for local children

Mahlon Mitchell with the Bosanko Brothers at their Packer Party; Fore the Kids Golf Tournament Champions; Fire & Iron MCs presenting their donation to Burn Camp”

Dave ‘Mr. Boz’ Bosanko presenting Bosanko Brothers for Charity Packer Party donation to Program Director Jenna Jordan and Executive Director Mike Wos; Jordan presenting guest speaker Jared Estes at the Fall Fire Safety Recognition Luncheon; Charitable Foundation Liaison, Mike DeGarmo at the 2016 Van Roo Fest; Jordan accepting the donation from Local 215’s Packer Party alongside the Jansens.

(left to right) Lucas Kotschi, Steve Pieper, Rich Gee, Scott Arneberg, Steve Wilding, Cindy McGinnis, Mahlon Mitchell, Jerry Biggart, Mike Woodzicka, Lance Tryggestad, and Matt Simpson, PFFW Executive Board

PFFWCFFire Fighter’s

Ball 2016

14 Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation

The Burn Center Golf Invitational (BCGI) has been a proud supporter of burn survivors since 1989. The event began in concept at the 1987 National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) Convention in Florida, when several Wisconsin attendees discussed a golf outing held in Indiana that they all attended. The group decided to host their own golf event – in the Milwaukee area for St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center. The Burn Center Golf Invitational was born.Dave Malek contacted St. Mary’s Hospital and the Milwaukee Fire Department – both were interested in participating. Milwaukee Fire Department Captain Dan Gengler, was recruited to participate as a committee member. Dan has continued his involvement, including 25 years as the event chair. Nearly 50 committee members have served since the Burn Center Golf Invitational’s inaugural event.The first outing was held at Tuckaway Country Club raising $19,000 with approximately 125 golfers. After three years, to accommodate greater participant interest, the outing was moved to Geneva National Country Club. Two years later it was moved to the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, where the tournament has been held for the last 23 years.Over the 28-year span, with the help of countless sponsors, volunteers, donors and golfers the tournament has surpassed $2.22 million. All proceeds support burn related causes, including Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center and Professional Fire Fighters of WI Charitable Foundation’s Alliance for Fire Safety Camp for Burn-Injured Youth.The purpose of BCGI is to “help in providing the best burn care, the best burn prevention and the best in fire/burn safety.” The event steering committee and targeted charities looks back on the 28 years with gratitude, inspiration and thanks. We know that with all of its supporters, the future will be met with continued vigor for the causes it supports so well.The outing celebrated its 28 years on August 29, 2016 with another great success. The BCGI Steering Committee want to thank all for their support and attendance.

It was a great day and evening at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. Under sunny skies and 80⁰ temperatures, 160 golfers hit the Brute and Highland courses of the complex. That evening, the banquet hall was filled with those focused on positively changing lives of those tragically burned or helping programs that help prevent the horrors of fire and burn scenarios.The BCGI Steering Committee is happy the 2016 outing raised more than $87,000. A quick breakdown: $5,000, to the 19th Annual Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety (AFS) Newspapers-in-Education Fire Safety school outreach program. This project will reach 350,000 fourth through eighth grade students in approximately 2,200 schools covering Wisconsin. After having our presentation by Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Regional Burn Center Medical Director Dr. Nicholas Meyer and burn survivor Michael Wagner, an additional $10,000 Fund-a-Cause auction item will finish funding the Lumenis UltraPulse CO2 Laser tool that reduces scarring of burn patients, like Michael. Earmarked for the CSM Foundation will be $46,900. Supporting the patients and staff of the Midwest’s most incredible burn unit, with $20,000 to the AFS for young burn survivor programming.The Committee, sponsored under the National Fire Sprinkler Association-Wisconsin Chapter, has created an account to help the NFSA-WI Chapter sponsor fire sprinkler training for fire service personnel. To move in that direction, $5,000 of the 2016 BCGI proceeds are designated to the chapter for a “Fire Sprinkler Education Account.” Introduced in 2016 is the Ray Malek Award. It was presented at the banquet to those who exemplify the BCGI support named after the man that helped make the event a success. Acknowledged the first year were Gregg Huennekens, Bruce LaRue, David Malek and Don Smith for their contribution throughout the history of the outing. The award will be displayed in the Burn Center Family Lounge of the Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center in Milwaukee. Presenting for the family was Ray’s son Darrel.The 2016 Burn Center Golf Invitational was another outstanding event, from every golf shot, bite of food, fun and friendship made or renewed. The combined total for the outing has now reached more than $2.2 million.Join those helping others on August 28, 2017 at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa for another great event.

Over the 28-year span, with the help of countless

sponsors, volunteers, donors and golfers the

tournament has surpassed $2.22 million.

Donor/Supporter/Event HighlightBy Dan Gengler

YOUR MEMBERSHIPMATTERS

JOIN US IN CREATING A FIRE SAFE AND BURN

FREE WISCONSIN.PFFWCF MEMBERSHIPJoin the PFFWCF Alliance for Fire Safety and help create a Fire Safe and Burn Free Wisconsin

WHAT DOES MEMBERSHIP MEAN?Membership is a reflection of a personal commitment to the values of public service, dedication, compassion, and courage demonstrated by the first responders, care givers, and burn survivors that are the heart of the Alliance for Fire Safety.

You will recieve: • Newsletter • Invitations to all events and fundraisers • An opportunity to have your voice heard statewide • Personal and professional growth, and enrichment while sharing the camaraderie with like minded people • Access to special offers and events available exclusively to members

January 2017 15

JOIN TODAY AT PFFWCF.ORG

Help us make 2017 our best year yet!We are fighting to create a burn free and fire safe Wisconsin through: - Burn Survivor Programs - Fire Prevention and Safety Programs - Fire Fighter Health, Safety, and Wellness Programs - Community Outreach and Engagement Programs

Please consider a donation to the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin

Charitable Foundation.

With a donation of $50 or more, we are gifting our membership which includes our newsletters,

invitations to events and celebrations, and a network of individuals passionate about making

Wisconsin burn free and fire safe.

It’s easy to give.Visit our website to make a

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PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS OF WISCONSIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION321 MAIN STREET, SUITE 200 I MADISON, WI 53703

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

JULY

AUGUST

Additional information about these events available at www.PFFWCF.org

AUGUST 13-19 Summer Camp for Burn Injured Youth AUGUST 17 Visitors Day

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBEROCTOBER 4 Fire Saftey Recognition Luncheon

OCTOBER 14 PFFWCF Fire Fighters Ball

SEPTEMBER 9 Firefighters 4 Charity Golf Outing

MARCH

AUGUST 28 Burn Center Golf Invitational

JUNEJUNE 4 Backdraft Bike Tour

JULY 8 Fire & Iron 17 Motorcycle Ride

JULY 31 Paul Davis Golf Outing - Madison

SEPTEMBER 14 Fore the Kids Golf Outing

SEPTEMBER 9 Fire & Iron 141 Motorcycle “Ride to Remember” - Green Bay

MARCH 16 - 19 Young Adult Burn Survivor Conference

MARCH 11 Firefighters 4 Charity Bowling

JANUARYJANUARY 26 Burn Camp Fundraiser - WEMSA JANUARY 1 Panga Polar Plunge

MARCH South Shore PFF Chili Cookoff

JULY 15 Fire & Iron 131 Motorcycle Ride - Sparta