Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
AFSA Virginia Chapter Helps
Burn Survivors
Fire is one of the most devastating tragedies a family can endure. The loss of one’s home, property, and treasured memories is shattering, but losing a loved one or having a loved one sustain injuries changes everyone’s life forever. According to the American Burn Association (ABA) approximately every minute someone in the United States sustains a burn injury. The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) wants to increase awareness about fire and burn prevention and help those affected by fire.
One AFSA chapter is making a big difference in the lives of burn survivors – the AFSA Virginia chapter. For 25 years, chapter members have raised funds to support The Central Virginia Burn Camp for Children and the Old Dominion Firefighters Burn Foundation. The driving fundraiser for this effort is the chapter’s Annual Burn Survivors Golf Tournament, a two-day event filled with golf, food, and fun. Last year’s tournament celebrated its silver anniversary and raised $110,000 for the Foundation and its two charities. Over the last 25 years, the chapter has donated over $1 million to these two charities!
“I’d like to think that the founders of our AFSA Virginia chapter would be very proud seeing what has been accomplished over the past 25 years,” states Burn Survivors Foundation Chairman Jack Medovich, PE, AFSA’s Second Vice Chairman of the Board and senior vice president of Fire & Life Safety America, Richmond, Virginia. “It’s very rewarding knowing that the Burn Survivors Foundation and its donors have touched so many lives within the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. Whether it’s watching the children from the Central Virginia Burn Camp grow up to be confident, accomplished adults or following the careers of the graduates from the fellowship we support and equipment we assist in providing at the MCV Burn Center in Richmond, Virginia. The Foundation along with all of our donors have touched so many lives who in turn have touched so many others. It truly is amazing to see!”
The Central Virginia Burn Camp in Charlottesville, Virginia, was established in 1994 and provides a fun, safe, and exciting summer camp for young burn survivors. The residential camp is designed to meet the social, physical, and psychological needs of young burn survivors, allowing them to be free from the stares and questions that accompany them throughout the rest of their year. It also allows firefighters the opportunity to share experiences with these unique children, most of whom, much like a firefighter, possess a firsthand understanding of fire and its devastating effects. The camp is free to children between the ages of seven and 17 and is staffed by firefighters, occupational therapists, nurses, adult burn survivors, and other interested volunteers. Campers come from across Virginia and the surrounding states. For more information on the camp, visit http://www.vaburncamp.org/.
The Old Dominion Firefighters Burn Foundation is dedicated to preventing burn injuries, assisting burn survivors in their recovery, and enhancing burn care across the Central Virginia region. Organized in 1998, the foundation is led by a dedicated group of Richmond-metropolitan area firefighters. The mission of the foundation is to provide burn prevention education and assist burn survivors through collaboration with area fire departments, healthcare institutions, and other community partners. For more information on the foundation visit http://odburn.org/.
In 2018, chapter members established the Burn Survivors Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Virginia non-profit corporation. The mission of the Burn Survivors Foundation is to improve the lives of all burn survivors, their families, and caregivers. The foundation provides affordable, educational, and outdoor recreational activities that foster a feeling of love and fellowship. An endowment fund was created to support The Central Virginia Burn Camp and the Old Dominion Firefighters Burn Foundation well into the future, and over $40,000 was raised! Last year, AFSA was proud to donate $5,000 to this foundation on behalf of convention attendees, in lieu of a convention souvenir. All of these donations will help ensure that the Central Virginia Burn Camp for children and the Old Dominion Firefighters Burn Foundation will be supported for many years to come.
The 2019 AFSA Virginia Chapter/Burn Survivors Foundation’s Annual Burn Survivors Golf Tournament will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, at the Williamsburg National Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia. For more information about the tournament, visit afsavirginia.com. If you wish to see the activities of the Burn Survivors Foundation or if you would like to make a donation, visit the website at http://www.burnsurvivorsfoundation.org.
