CEO Corner June 2025

Dear Friends of ABF,

In this month’s newsletter, you will read about a resilient group of individuals wo inspire me every day. While they have always been a source of inspiration, I must admit I was initially hesitant when one of our board members, Jason, approached me with his idea.

Jason, a burn survivor himself, wanted to put together a group of burn survivors and members of the fire departments around the Valley and hike rim to rim the Grand Canyon. All 25 miles would be done in one day.

I am not often at a loss for words, but this seemed like a bold initiative. 

It wasn’t that I doubted their ability to complete the hike; I just wanted to protect these amazing individuals from any potential harm. After all, they had already overcome so much. But as I have learned through ABF, no one needs protection. Support? Yes. A community? Yes. A shoulder to lean on occasionally? Yes.

Once again, they have shown me what it means to go from merely surviving to thriving. Their determination compels me to do even more for burn survivors and their families.

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the team for raising critical funds to support other burn survivors. Additionally, I am deeply grateful to Cunningham Law Firm, the sponsor of this endeavor, and to K2 Travel Adventures for their invaluable support, logistical planning and keeping our team safe.

Warm regards,

Rex Albright

ABF CEO