How Firefighters For Healing came to be.
The last 15 years have provided beautiful moments with families and patients who have survived trauma or injury. There have also been beautiful moments when we shared a core memory of saying goodbye to a loved one. There have been tender moments of families reuniting, patients and a family member reuniting, and burn center teams reuniting with patients. Every year has required our Founder and board members to lean into the demand for support and solve for how to show up for our families. To rally community support through donations to provide the spaces, programming and loving support for patient families has been rewarding and challenging. We are proudly celebrating 15 years of love, healing & hope.
Here is our story that required love, persistence, patience, tenacity, community allies, sweat equity, time, attention and a positive attitude.
January 2001
As a child Jake spent countless hours at the firehouse with his father who was a Minneapolis Firefighter. After years of hard work Jake realized his childhood dream of being a Station 8 firefighter ~ the same fire station where his father had served his community for over 30 years.
July 2010
Jake was responding to a house fire in Minneapolis when a rare backdraft explosion rocked his world, threw him 100 yards and forced him to jump from a 3rd floor window to safety. While being treated for second and third degree burns in the Hennepin Healthcare burn unit, Jake met 2 young brothers, Cameron was 3 years old and Caden was 5 years old. Their circumstance inspired Jake to want to advocate for burn survivors. Jake is eternally grateful for God’s grace saving him that day and giving him a new mission of fulfilling His greater plan!
August 2010
With the news of Minneapolis Firefighters being injured on the job, the community came together to host a fundraiser to show their support. With the funds raised at this very first event, Firefighters For Healing was born. That very first year, a few children who had survived burn trauma went to a survivor camp in Colorado.
July 2015
After a few years of hosting small fundraising events, Jake knew it was time to grow both the board and the organization. That’s when longtime supporter Ron Meuser and good friend Chris Dunker met Jake for dinner to discuss the future of the foundation. On the back of a napkin, the three sketched out the future vision for the board of directors and the foundation.
November 2015
Guest speakers Allison and Jeff Crowther, parents of The Man in the Red Bandana, Welles Crowther, helped us host 150 attendees at our first annual “Red Tie Gala” fundraiser. This intimate event raised enough money to help us launch a Summer camp program in Minnesota for children who had survived burn trauma.
August 2017
Camp RED, which stands for Realize Every Dream, is launched in Crosslake, MN with 25 children between the ages of 5-16 years old who had also survived burn trauma. Campers enjoyed making new friends, fishing, swimming, archery, horseback riding, and an epic water fight when Crosslake Fire rolled in with 2 fire trucks.
August 2018
Families desired to stay close to their family member in the Burn Unit and hotels were not always the best place to cook a healthy meal, do laundry, get a good night’s sleep or gather the extended family. So in partnership with local builder Kraus-Anderson, we leased 3 apartments in the newly constructed HQ Apartment building located just 1 block from Hennepin Healthcare. This was the start of our feasibility study and the first of many testimonials from thankful families who really appreciated the coordinated care.
May 2019
Over time we saw demand for emergency housing increase. While started with 3 fully furnished at HQ apartments, we grew to 5 units and then to 7 units. It was proof we needed our own home! In looking for a permanent location, we always had the patient and family in mind. Being located within 2 blocks of Hennepin Healthcare and ideally even skyway connected was critical. After many months of fundraising and countless meetings, a ‘thin space’ moment presented itself. Developer George Sherman of Sherman Associates was in talks with Thrivent to build The Moment apartment building. Shortly after hearing of our mission, George agreed to partner with us and to include the Transitional Healing Center on the second floor.”
August 2020
Fundraising and rallying community support through sponsorships and events is how we have been able to move the needle. At each event, we aim to engage, educate and entertain our guests. Golf during the pandemic was a challenge but it showed creativity and our ability to be nimble. We are so thankful to all who make this a fabulous annual event!
May 2021
Following years of planning, fundraising and thoughtful design we hosted our groundbreaking ceremony in partnership with Sherman Associates. Guests included first responders, donors and supporters – many of whom had supported Jake’s mission since day one. The event included speeches by the Mayor, City Council members, the CEO of Hennepin Healthcare and our Founder Jake. With shovels in hand, board members lined up to be the very first to ‘break ground’ on our new home.
January 2023
January 18th is forever known as Jake Laferriere Day and the day we hosted donors and community partners at a ribbon cutting ceremony. Board members took our guests on tours to see, touch and feel the private and common spaces in the Healing Center. Everyone loved that the environment was so beautiful and welcoming.
August 2025
Since we opened The Healing Center, we have hosted families for 5000 nights and saved them more than $1 Million in alternate lodging.
The Transitional Healing Center would not have become a reality without generous and kind donors, volunteers and supporters like you! Supporting burn survivors, first responders and their families takes a village. Will you join us?
Every amount helps. Let us know in the notes field what inspired YOU to give
Does your company hold an annual event which you can raise funds at?
Drop a note to congratulate Jake (and the Board) on this 15 year milestone!
Firefighters for Healing is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)3) organization. Your donation is tax-deductible, subject to rules and regulations of the IRS. Please consult your tax professional for instructions on filing this deduction. Firefighters for Healing will provide a receipt with our federal tax-exempt ID for such purposes.
