CCS assists with annual hospital, burn center fundraising barbecue

Few things go together better than summer and barbecue — unless you add Bakersfield and fundraising into the mix.

The second annual ” 5 Alarm Barbecue,” benefiting the San Joaquin Community Hospital‘s Grossman Burn Center, raised more than $70,000, according to media reports. That’s more than $35,000 worth of hamburger lunches that were sold, combined with a matching contribution by partnering company Chevron.

All of the money raised will go toward helping burn survivors in Kern County during their recovery.

The event featured hundreds of volunteers who grilled the burgers, packaged them and sold or delivered them to hungry Bakersfield residents during lunchtime on Wednesday, July 2. The “5 Alarm Barbecue” was stationed on the corner of 21st and L streets, complete with a portable kitchen and a Bakersfield Fire Department truck.

Among the numerous volunteers was Chain | Cohn | Clark senior partner and San Joaquin Community Hospital Foundation board member Matt Clark, who manned the barbecue grill and served up hot and juicy hamburgers.

In addition, Clark’s Bakersfield personal injury and workers’ compensation law firm ordered more than 20 lunches for its employees.

According to media reports, many patrons ordered just a single $10 lunch but donated much more, and still others dropped off checks for large amounts without any lunch.

The attorneys and staff at Chain | Cohn | Clark for years have supported San Joaquin’s Grossman Burn Center, and burn victims in general. In 2009, Chain | Cohn | Clark donated $200,000 to San Joaquin Community Hospital’s Grossman Burn Center ICU. Today, it is known as the “Chain | Cohn | Clark ICU, Grossman Burn Center at San Joaquin Community Hospital.”

The “5 Alarm Barbecue” was also aimed to raise awareness of the Grossman Burn Center. Organizers of the event said that supporters of the barbecue make a big impact, because donations go toward:

• Providing critical financial assistance to the smallest burn survivors – more than 42 percent of the patients in the Grossman Burn Center at San Joaquin are children.
• Helping offset the costs of customized face shield and pressure garments that greatly reduce scarring and increase mobility in the affected burn areas.
• Assisting financially challenged families with fuel cars and special accommodations while their children are treated in the burn center.
• Offering psychological counseling for young burn survivors to help them cope with the non-physical effects of their injuries.
• Creating another financial assistance option for the various additional needs of child burn survivors that may not be covered through insurance.

To learn more about the Grossman Burn Center and Chain | Cohn | Clark’ support, go here.