What an incREDible night! The annual Firefighters for Healing Red Tie Gala just keeps getting better and better. The 2018 Red Tie Gala took place in October at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center and raised over $500,000! Ron Meuser is a proud member of the Firefighters for Healing board of directors and speaks for the entire board by saying Thank You! The amazing feedback, support, energy, and enthusiasm is overwhelming.
Firefighters for Healing is a non-profit 501c(3) organization founded in 2011 by Minneapolis firefighter, Jake Laferriere after experiencing firsthand what burn victims have to go through. In 2010 Jake suffered 3rdand 4thdegree burns to his hands and arms in a backdraft explosion while battling a house fire. While at the hospital being treated for his burns, Jake met several young children who were going through the same painful recovery process that he was experiencing himself. Jake wanted to help these children, so he founded Firefighters for Healing to support children and burn victims in ways that insurance companies and caretakers are unable to. Firefighters for Healing is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization, so every penny of the funds raised go directly to help burn survivors. Those funds are used to replace essential daily living necessities lost in a fire, provide financial assistance for surgeries, support summer camp attendance for young burn victims, donate to local hospital burn units, and much more. See Jake and Firefighters for Healing in action:
The 4thannual gala proved to be a fun night by all attendees. Alicia Lewis with Kare11 was the emcee for the evening, the live auction was definitely lively, the entertainment was spectacular and to learn more about each of the honorary guests was simply amazing. The evening featured red carpet photos, color guard presentation of the flag and the national anthem sung by former NFL player, Esera Tuaolo. Click here to check out the pictures from the event. Proceeds from this year’s gala will be directed toward:
- Camp RED: Camp RED (Realize Every Dream) gives burn survivors ages 6 – 16 the opportunity to live beyond their scars and to be a kid again.
- HCMC Burn Center: The Hennepin County Medical Center Burn Center provides intensive, acute, and rehabilitative care to children and adults from the Twin Cities and surrounding states.
- HQ Apartment Units: Kraus-Anderson and Firefighters for Healing teamed up to make three apartment units in the new HQ Apartments available free of charge. Generous donations from the community and others helped to fully furnish these units and make them feel more like home.
Jake continues his mission to help burn and trauma survivors through direct emotional and financial support at the time they need it most, and this year Firefighters for Healing made some real advancements. In August, three 1-bedroom apartment units at the new HQ Apartments in Minneapolis, Minnesota were made available to burn and trauma survivors, their families, and firefighters. These units are conveniently located just 2 blocks from Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC) and are free of charge for any firefighters or burn and trauma survivors who are receiving medical care in the Twin Cities. The apartments will provide more of a home away from home feel while the patients are recovering or receiving care.
Ron Meuser, founder of Meuser Law Office, P.A. sits on the board of directors of Firefighters for Healing, and the firm continues to be a proud sponsor of the annual Firefighters for Healing Red Tie Gala. Meuser Law Office, P.A. was instrumental in helping Jake secure Minnesota workers’ compensation, PERA and other health benefits after his tragic on-the-job injury. We have represented hundreds of firefighters and other first responders, so if you have suffered injuries while on the job, contact Meuser Law Office, P.A. for a free, no obligation consultation. Ron and the attorneys are knowledgeable in the very complex area of Minnesota workers’ compensation and PERS/MSRS law.
For more information about Firefighters for Healing or to donate, please visit their website at: www.firefightersforhealing.org