News Release May 5, 2007

Johnson County RFD #1 Fire Corps Assists Arkansas Children’s Hospital with Camp Sunshine

CLARKSVILLE, AR. (May 4, 2007) -- The Johnson County Rural Fire District #1 Fire Corps (members of University of the Ozarks’ Phi Beta Lambda and Students in Free Enterprise organizations) will be volunteering at Camp Sunshine this August in order to support the Burn Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Camp Sunshine is an annual four-day summer camp held specifically for children who are burn survivors. The event provides the children with a unique opportunity to attend a summer camp without having to be concerned with their injuries or appearance. For four days, the children can focus solely on having fun.

Johnson County RFD #1 Fire Corps members will be involved in several ways at Camp Sunshine. The members will join with the children in playing games and participating in scheduled activities. Perhaps the biggest project Fire Corps is hoping to engage in would be to create a promotional video for the camp. Since most of the members are business, marketing, or communications majors, they have the skills necessary to execute the project.

After the Fire Corps group became aware of Camp Sunshine and its mission, Kari Wood, the Director, went to Little Rock to visit the Burn Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and learn more about how the two organizations could benefit each other. She met with the Nursing Director, Outreach Coordinator, and the Director of Camp Sunshine to discuss possible projects that Johnson County RFD #1 Fire Corps could assist the hospital and Burn Center in executing.
After her experience, Kari said, “I’m really excited about the possibilities open to us in helping Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Together, our organizations will make a great team and help a lot of people.”

Anyone who is interested in learning more about Camp Sunshine or the Burn Center can call or email Gretta Wilkinson at 501-364-1323 or wilkinsonge@archildrens.org.