Firefighters’ Cancer Group Draws Business Support

The Firefighter Cancer Support Network celebrated a three-day event and fundraiser earlier this month to support firefighters and their immediate families diagnosed with cancer. One of the donors for the event that took place the weekend of Nov. 1-3 was Los Angeles-based Resmark Apartment Living, which recently opened a new community in the Santa Clarita Valley, The Townhomes at Lost Canyon. Tim Sipowicz, vice president of asset management for Resmark, said the company decided to donate $2,500 to the Firefighter Cancer Support network in appreciation for the local fire station, which is up the road from the housing community. “We wanted to thank Station 150 for their time, to honor them and all firefighters, and decided to get involved with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network,” he said. “We learned after the donation that the founder and treasurer both are firefighters and residents of Santa Clarita, which was satisfying for us to get involved with the local community.” The annual event and foundation was started by local firefighter and paramedic Mike Dubron, who works for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2003, Dubron said he came up with the idea for the Burbank-based non-profit after receiving support from fellow firefighters who had their own experiences with cancer, and he wanted to extend that same support to others in his line of work. “I had the small idea of forming a group, with other firefighters from the Southern California area, survivors that might be interested,” he said. The non-profit was incorporated in 2005 and currently includes support groups across the country. Dubron said the organization currently operates on a $300,000 annual budget. It educates firefighters on different methods of preventing exposure to carcinogens in their work, such as teaching them to clean equipment and shower immediately after a fire. The annual dinner event was held at the Sheraton Universal City, with major corporate sponsors including the Van Nuys-based law offices of Straussner & Sherman, Honeywell International Inc., and local area fire stations. He said although he has not seen the numbers on how much was raised this year, he estimated $50,000 was made on the silent auction alone. Dubron plans to continue expanding the mission of the philanthropic group through marketing, golf tournaments and bike rides across the country to raise funds for the cause. Rattling for Humanity Rattler’s Bar B Que restaurant is celebrating its 25th anniversary by donating 10 percent of sales revenue on Mondays throughout November to the Habitat for Humanity affiliate of the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys. The group will use the funds to finance a housing project for low-income veterans. Rattler’s also served veterans and their families, as well as invited guests, at Habitat’s barbeque Nov. 9 to mark the groundbreaking of the housing development. Justin Lopez, director of marketing for Rattler’s, said the Santa Clarita restaurant decided to become involved with the charity after being approached by a board member of Habitat’s San Fernando and Santa Clarita chapter. “When we found out Habitat for Humanity was building a project just down the street, we wanted to be part of it in a big way,” he said. Lopez added that business has increased on Mondays, with about a 10 to 12 percent bump in sales. Donna Deutchman, chief executive of Habitat’s affiliate for the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, said Rattler’s has signed on board to provide assistance in a variety of ways for the housing project. “This is a first-time partnership and it was amazing. Rattler’s served almost 1,000 meals on Nov. 9 for the barbeque for the troops,” she said. “In addition, our phase one of the 87 home development will house about 25 families and Rattler’s committed to serving one meal a month for each family.” She said the project’s proposed budget is $25 million, and $2 million still needs to be raised. Lopez said Rattler’s has also committed 20 to 30 volunteers to help in the building effort of the homes next year. Rattler’s, at 26495 Golden Valley Rd., is down the street from the development site. The restaurant was founded in 1988, and its sister concept, Westlake-Village based Stonefire Grill, was founded in 2000. Rattler’s has one location while Stonefire Grill currently has seven locations across Los Angeles and Orange counties. Typhoon Help Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission is holding a fundraiser through Dec. 1 for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. The Sun Valley non-profit will donate $5 for each 13-gallon bag of clothing that is donated to its shelter and thrift shop at 8165 N. San Fernando Road. David Faustina, general manager at Hope of the Valley, said this is a way for members of the community, even those with limited financial means, to help victims in the Philippines. “As a non-profit part of a larger community, I believe everybody needs to come together and respond when there is a tragedy of this magnitude,” he said. “This is a way for us to reach out and help others.” Staff Reporter Jacquelinne Mejia can be reached at (818) 316-3124 or [email protected].