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Thank You

Silver Anniversary Sponsor
  
 
The Burn Foundation celebrated throughout the month of April with "fun"raisers. We would like to thank all of our amazing sponsors and volunteers who helped to make these events such a success!
 
  
     
Upcoming Events
  
May 9 - 11 & 16-18
Martinez Columbia County Boot Drive
  
May 11
Red Knights Motorcycle Charity Ride
  
June 10-13
South Carolina Fire/Rescue Conference
  
For more information contact Bobbie Jo Gainey at [email protected]
  
  
  
  
Firefighters:
When the alarm goes off, they are almost the only examples of enthusiastic unselfishness to be seen in this land.
Kurt Vonnegut
  
  
  

Caring by the Numbers

647 - the number of people the Burn Foundation assisted with transportation in 2012.
  
  
  

The retreat has offered safety and peace through all of the turmoil. 

Kim Pittman,

Chavis House Guest

  
  
  

 

Check out the pictures from Rodeo Nights on our Facebook page.

  
  
  
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May 2013

Greetings!   

There are over 1 million firefighters in the U.S., and it is estimated that 70% are volunteers.  Many departments are made up of both career and volunteer firefighters.  At Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation, we meet all kinds. Unfortunately, we sometimes meet them as burn patients or as family members or co-workers of a patient.   Some get involved as fundraisers and volunteers, some serve on our board, and others pass the boot in their home communities to support our mission.  They hold galas, collect aluminum cans, ride motorcycles, and even pose for calendars to help us care for burn patients and their families.  These are people who step in to make things right, while others are talking about what is wrong.  This month, you will meet just a few of the firefighters that have helped shape our twenty-five year history.

Some Like it Hot

When Dr. Joseph M. Still founded the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation 25 years ago, he recognized that there was one volunteer in particular, the firefighter, who would be instrumental in helping the organization achieve its mission to help families of patients being treated at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital. 

 

We were reminded this past month at the Boston Marathon how critical first responders are to every community.  While the normal response is to run from danger, firefighters are trained to run toward danger, including burning buildings, in order to save lives. The Burn Center is able to boast a 97% survival rate for its patients, in large part, because of the help of firefighters and other first responders. 

 

Unfortunately, the firefighter may help save a burn patient, but often has no opportunity to reconnect with patients once they have been admitted to the hospital.  Volunteering  with the Burn Foundation gives the firefighter an opportunity to continue sharing compassion and care to burn survivors and their families. 

 

"Firefighters play a vital role in our organization," said Jo Maypole, President of the Burn Foundation.  "They raise 25% of our budget through boot drives, golf tournaments and other fundraisers.  They are supportive with our annual Shop with a Doc shopping spree, and this past November helped with our First Annual Hot Diggity Dog Chili Cook-off."

 

We thought it would be nice to hear first-hand what our firefighter volunteers had to say when we asked, "Why do you support the Burn Foundation?"

    

 

I am a 30-year veteran of the Fire Service and have seen and worked with many burn victims, and there is a service being provided by the Foundation and the Chavis House that is absolutely unique. The Foundation has the rare opportunity to bring together the general public, corporations, first responders and the medical community behind one cause. I really believe that the surface of what the Foundation can achieve has just been scratched.

 

John F. Ryan

Assistant Fire Chief

Training/Special Operations

19 year volunteer with the Burn Foundation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I support the Burn Foundation because of the many lives that they have affected over the years, including the moral support they give during the recovery.

 

Bryan Rawl, Captain 

Lexington County Fire Service

12 year volunteer with the Burn Foundation

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The reason for supporting the Foundation is the work that they do. I think being burned would be worse than losing a limb. The support that the Foundation gives to the victims & family members is second to none. 

  

Danny L. Kuhlmann

Special Operations Chief

Columbia County Fire Rescue

20 year volunteer with the Burn Foundation

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I support this foundation for more than one reason. The first reason is we, as first responders, rush to help folks when 911 is called every day. We don't get to know these patients during their emergency. We treat, patch, package and transport these patients to the local trauma centers and drop them off, never knowing exactly how things will turn out. I appreciate the fact that there is a major support system, such as the Burn Foundation, that picks up where the first responders' job must end.

 

In December 2009 I was with a large group of calendar models selling our SSFD Calendars at the Savannah Mall when I saw a little girl walking across the food court where we were. I could tell by her appearance that something horrible had happened to her, and I learned that she had been a patient in the Joseph M. Still Burn Center.  After spending 10 minutes with this little girl, I could tell that she really didn't understand that she was not like all the other children. She acted like she was any other 8-year-old at the mall to see Santa. During this brief time with her family, I realized the purpose for selling calendars and raising money was for THIS little girl and others like her.

 

Gary Jarriel

Director of Security, Southside Fire/EMS & Security

Savannah, GA

10 year volunteer with the Burn Foundation

 

Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation, Inc.
3416 J. Dewey Gray Circle
Augusta, Georgia 30909
1-800-650-BURN