Click here to download a PDF of the 2008 Annual report.

2008 Highlights

Project R.E.A.C.H. (Recycling Every Aluminum Can Helps) continues to help the environment with its green initiative, keeping over 16,000 pounds of aluminum out of Georgia landfills.
 
More than 70 fire departments throughout the State participated in the 19th Annual “Give Burns The Boot”® Campaign, raising funds to benefit the organization’s mission and programs.  Ten percent of the funds collected was made available to participating departments for use with the fire safety/burn prevention programs within their local communities.

Dana Dillard, LCSW, was hired as the new Programs Director. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Social Work and brings a very strong set of skills as a mental health professional. Dana is not considered new to the GFBF family, as she has been an active and dedicated volunteer for over ten years.

Phillip Spitzer, ING Financial Partners was brought onto the GFBF team as investment manager. As a non-profit agency operating in the current economic climate, it is crucial that financial resources are managed appropriately and with Phil’s expertise, knowledge, and background the GFBF is very excited about the potential of his passion and stewardship.

Melissa Rosner, Rosner Media Production was hired as the GFBF webmaster to develop and manage the new foundation website, www.gfbf.org.

Held the annual Holiday Open House at the GFBF offices and hosted the holiday celebrations at both the Grady Burn Center in Atlanta, GA and the JM Still Burn Center in Augusta, GA.

Continue active involvement with local and national initiatives to support legislation that will ban the sale and distribution of “Novelty Lighters.”

Partnered with SEMCO Productions and Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services to establish an interactive home safety and prevention exhibit area at the annual Atlanta Home Shows.

Twenty burn survivors were sponsored to attend the Phoenix Society’s World Burn Congress at the University of North Carolina in Raleigh, NC.

The Brant Chesney Fallen Firefighters Memorial Grant Program awarded over $41,000 to 16 fire departments to assist in the fire safety/burn prevention efforts.

Partnered with the Georgia Public Safety Educators Association to facilitate three Fire & Life Safety Blitz events across the state; Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Irwin County, Camilla, Union, Townes and Rabun County. More than 20 schools and 8,000 students participated in this safety initiative.

Active involvement as a member of the Juvenile Fire-setter Intervention multidisciplinary task force which experienced major progress in establishing a statewide minimum standards guideline to assist departments in addressing the very serious issue of juvenile fire-setting and child fire play. The GFBF had staff representation at the national fire-setter conference in San Diego, CA.

Continued collaboration with Barrow County Fire Department with growing the nationally recognized “Children After the Fire” program.

Hosted a number of Advanced Burn Life Support classes which resulted in an estimated 120 first responders and medical personnel receiving ABLS certifications.

Collaborated with the State Fire Marshall’s Office, the Department of Human Resources, and the Centers for Disease Control to distribute more than 4,000 smoke detectors to residences, assisted living facilities, and apartment homes across the state.

Camp Oo-U-La®, “Georgia’s only camp for burn injured children,” celebrated another impactful program with 96 campers attending this year and more then 120 volunteers donating their time to help ensure a memorable time for all the children. Two campers from Camp BUCKO in Ontario, along with their chaperone, participated as part of our international camper exchange program.

The John, Lynne & Nicole Belli Endowment Fund enabled the GFBF to award three college scholarships to some very deserving burn survivors to assist them in their pursuit of higher education. The GFBF was also able to utilize funds to partner with Emory University to employ a Post-Doctorate Fellow to work with children and families in the Grady Hospital Burn Center.

Hosted the Young Adult Burn Survivors Retreat which was attended by three dozen burn survivors between the ages of 18-25. Attendees form Georgia, South Carolina, and California participated.

Provided attendee scholarships to various conferences including World Burn Congress, American Burn Association, and Southern Regional Medical.

Hosted several informal social events designed to create a sense of community by bringing together individuals and families that have been affected by burn and trauma.

Presented to various organizations including Cobb County Schools, Kennesaw State University, and School Social Workers Association of Georgia.

Distributed safety literature while providing refreshments at the National Firefighters Combat Challenge.

Hosted the 19th Annual Firefighters Recognition Day luncheon which provided a delicious meal and entertainment for 500 attendees.

Partnered with Savannah Fire & Emergency Services and Kroger Supermarkets to provide Christmas meals for all firefighter personnel assigned to work the holiday shifts at each fire station.

Partnered with Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioners office to co-sponsor Life, Fire, and Safety Children’s Poster awards luncheon.

Co-sponsored Statewide Fire Safety Symposium at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.

 Financial Highlights

Contact the GFBF offices for additional information or to request a copy of the current IRS Form 990.