Del Rosa Hotshots Host Golf Tournament for the Wildland Firefighters Foundation

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Del Rosa Hotshots Golf Tournament

The Del Rosa Hotshots are the one of the oldest hotshot crews in the United States.  In 2009, they hosted their first annual golf tournament benefitting the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, an Idaho-based non-profit organization whose mission is to provide immediate assistant to families of injured and fallen firefighters.  In 2010, they carried on this new tradition, hosting the 2nd Annual Wildland Firefighter Foundation Golf Tournament at the San Bernardino Golf Club in San Bernardino, California.

The tournament was attended by 80 golfers, who were active and retired Hotshots, firefighters from neighboring agencies, friends and family members.  The event featured an 18 hole tournament, a putting contest, a prize for the longest drive, and one for "closest to the pin", as well as a raffle.  Donations came from entry fees, sales of raffle tickets, tee sponsorships, and from corporate Platinum Sponsors, which included Bradford Portraits, Demenno Kerdoon Recycling, and Stater Brothers Markets, whose President, Jack Brown, was a former Hotshot firefighter.

Wildland Firefighter Foundation

Explaining where the money raised from the event goes, David Borero a Del Rosa Hotshot Squad Boss and the tournament's Head Coordinator says of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, "They help with fallen firefighters' families or injured firefighters.  They'll come in, and since it takes a little while for all the politics to go through for money to help families, they'll go in and help right away."  They provide support services to firefighters' families in the form of money to help pay bills, groceries, emotional support, advocacy, and recognition to injured and fallen firefighters.

According to Neil Gamboa, a Captain with the Del Rosa Hotshots, the group felt that a golf tournament would be an excellent way to support the Foundation because of the popularity of golf, saying that it is a source of enjoyment for both firefighters and civilians alike, as well as a great way for past and present Hotshots to reunite for a good cause.

Golf Tournament Winners

The tournament was capped with a Texas Barbeque and an awards ceremony.  The winners received two trophies, one that they can keep permanently and another one in the form of Smokey the Bear on which the winners' names are engraved and is passed along each year to the new winners.  The second place team also received a trophy, and the last place winners received a special trophy proclaiming, "Last Place: Maybe You Guys Should Play Checkers". 

A list of winners is below:

1st Place Team
Jesse Ramsey
Jeremy Ramsey
Jason Rudell
Jeff Robitaille

2nd Place Team
Anthony Galvon
David Beaudoin
Jim Mcmullen
Danny Vidana

'Dead-Dog' Last Place Team
Sierra Brown
Heidi Esh
Humberto Ramos
Robert Velasquez

Putting Contest
Adam Tinker (Former Big Bear Hotshot)

Cloesest-to-the-Pin
Mike Calkins (Capt of BDF Engine 37)

Longest Drive
Jesse Ramsey

$5000.00 was raised in the 2010 event, matching the 2009 donations.  The Del Rosa Hotshots plan to continue this tradition for years to come.