For the past 20 years, Menlo Park Firefighters Association and Menlo Park Fire District have teamed together for a fundraiser known as the Pancake Breakfast (run by the Association) and an Open House (on behalf of the District). For those of you that are new, here is a brief history and description about this remarkable day. 2020 would have marked our 20^th year, but due to COVID was cancelled. The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation is a non-profit organization built to enhance the quality of life for burn survivors and promote burn prevention. The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (founded in 1971 and funded entirely by private sources) was inspired by Alisa Ann, an eight-year-old who was fatally burned in a common backyard barbecue accident. There are more than 1.25 million burn injuries each year in the United States. In California alone, 10,000 people a year are burned severely to require medical attention; of that number, nearly half are children. The Burn Foundation works in partnership with firefighters, educators, and burn care professionals to develop innovative programs and services.

The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation spotlights a person's "inner beauty" not the burn scars. The Pancake Breakfast is the avenue for the Menlo Park community to support our local heroes and spread that inner beauty to our neighbors.

Cooperation between Stanford Park Hotel, the Junior League of the Mid-Peninsula, and the Menlo Park Firefighters Association brings about a successful annual Pancake Breakfast raising on average $8000 to benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. The benefit fundraiser would not be a success without the planning and organization, time, commitment and donations given from the people of these three organizations. In addition Trader Joes, McDonald’s, A-1 Party Rental were all major contributors in providing food and equipment to make the breakfast possible. The Open House, provided education to our community on some of the tasks required by our firefighters like vehicle extrication and repelling. Also a time for our community to see our equipment like drones and our engines/trucks. It was a fun filled day to bring our community together while raising money for a very special cause.

The breakfast is hosted in conjunction with the Menlo Park Fire District Open House at Menlo Park Fire Districts Headquarters, 300 Middlefield Road. The team from Stanford Park Hotel, Junior League and the Menlo Park Firefighters Association has a great time serving pancakes, sausage, fruit, coffee cake, coffee and juice to more than 1000 hungry people visiting the firehouse. Families are able to visit with firefighters, sit on a fire engine, get pictures in firefighter gear and have fun at their local firehouse.

The 18th Annual Pancake Breakfast in October 2019 raised a little over $10,000 for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation making it another successful year.

Menlo Park Fire 30 Day Challenge supporting Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation

Menlo Park Fire 30 Day Challenge

Menlo Park Fire 30 Day Challenge supporting Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation