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 Established in 2005, Burning River lacrosse offers opportunities for players in Northern Ohio, starting with basic skills development through the college recruiting process. About 2,000 players have worked through the program since its inception, and teams have showcased their skills in championship efforts on the club circuit.
Burning River has also always put charity work in the forefront of its mission, whether through impromptu events like last fall's breast cancer research fundraising movement or through their more established efforts.
"We teach kids responsibilities in lacrosse," says Burning River founder Woody Calleri. "But we're also teaching kids how to be responsible in their community. It's something that's overlooked in a lot of other clubs."
The Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase is Burning River's biggest yearly fundraising program. The annual event, which is set for April 23 at Hawken School's Walton Stadium, helps raise money for the Fisher House Foundation.
"It's in keeping with what we're teaching the kids. It's all about being a part of a family," says Calleri. "We wanted to show how people can turn around and help each other. If something happens to you, guys are there." The event raises money for Fisher House Foundation through program ads, ticket sales, and an online auction. In the last 3 years, the event has raised more than$125,000 for the families of our wounded service men and women. Woody Calleri brings in a special guest each year to inspire the players before the tournament begins. This year' speaker is Sgt. Joe Gross, who lost his leg in a suicide car bomb while serving in Bagdad in 2005. During his medical treatment and recovery Sgt. Gross and his wife stayed in the Fisher House at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for an extended period of time. Read more about Burning River's Charity Lacrosse Showcase for Fisher House here. Thank you, Burning River Lacrosse, for raising funds and awareness for Fisher House Foundation! | 
Chris Roney
On March 4, 2011, our lives changed forever. If you have anyone in the armed services, then you know what it means when uniformed Marines are knocking at your front door. My son, Ryan, was home alone and they could not speak to him, but he knew. He called Joyce, and she called me in a panic. We both raced home. Joyce arrived before me, which hurts me to this moment that she faced them without my help. As I drove racing through the streets, I kept praying for a mistake - talking to Jordan - and knowing that the Marines do not make this kind of mistake.
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