Children’s Burn Foundation

Partnering to provide 360-degree care for South Bay pediatric burn survivors and their families.

Children’s Burn Foundation At a Glance:

4,000

Helps 4,000 pediatric burn survivors and their families internationally each year.

1,000

Assists 1,000 local families annually with financial and psychological support.

200,000

Provides burn prevention education programs to 200,000 people every year, including teachers, parents, caregivers and students at elementary, middle and high schools.

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Burns are the fifth-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for infants, children and teens under age 19 in America. In fact, more than 300 infants, children and adolescents die each year—while 80,000 are treated in emergency departments for burn injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s partnership with the Children’s Burn Foundation provides top-notch medical care and rehabilitation while also easing financial and emotional strain for families as they navigate the road to recovery.

“Most people don’t realize the tremendous and long-lasting stress families experience when a child has a burn injury,” says Tanya Sorkin, chief program officer for the foundation, a Sherman Oaks-based nonprofit organization that provides financial, emotional and psychological assistance to burn survivors and their families. “Many children require multiple surgeries; some aren’t fully covered by insurance. Parents need to be by their child’s side at the hospital, and this can require much time off work.”

Sorkin explains that hospital case workers let her team know if families of a pediatric burn patient become rent- or food-insecure, or if any siblings of the burn survivor need caregiving, transportation or emotional support during this time.

“It’s easy for a situation to spiral, and that’s where we can come in. We can provide gas cards, support groups, rent assistance and can even assist with co-payments for surgeries that a child requires that are not covered by insurance,” Sorkin adds.

Excellent Care and Support

Families of pediatric burn patients breathe easier when they come to Torrance Memorial, as they are guaranteed the highest quality of medical care by exceptionally trained and experienced physicians and staff who utilize the latest technology for reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation. The partnership with the Children’s Burn Foundation is especially meaningful for the long-standing relationships that physicians and staff build with the families, explains Matthew Reiss, MD, director of the Torrance Memorial Burn Center.

For instance, Dr. Reiss says, the foundation helped a local family whose lives were forever changed after their ADU burned down in 2024. The fire killed the father, severely burned the mother and burned 60% of their 6-year-old daughter’s body. She was treated by Dr. Reiss and his team.

Another son with special needs lost a leg, and the 21-year-old son, who had not been home at the time of the fire, was left in charge to manage family care and the funeral for his father.

“It was traumatizing. And although the mother was out of the hospital earlier than her daughter, she was devastated and depressed and still had her own injuries,” explains Dr. Reiss. “The older son was the decision-maker and took care of the family. He received a lot of help from the Children’s Burn Foundation. The youngest needed multiple surgeries, including a tracheostomy, and they all had significant rehabilitation needs.”

From Despair to Repair

Tanya Sorkin, chief program officer for the Children's Burn Foundation, and Matthew Reiss, MD, director of the Torrance Memorial Burn Center, unite at one of their annual holiday family reunion parties last December.

Both Sorkin and Dr. Reiss reiterate how uplifting the services of the Children’s Burn Foundation are, as pediatric burn patients and families move from despair and pain into support, confidence and more ease. They get to know the families well and build long-lasting relationships. Each year, both Torrance Memorial Burn Center and the Children’s Burn Foundation host annual holiday parties where new and old families reunite year after year.

“It’s an incredible feeling to help a child recover from significant injuries, and to see families return for our annual holiday party,” says Dr. Reiss. “It’s my favorite part of the job and time of the year, as families return 20 to 30 years later! I get to see them doing well, and it feels great to know it’s due to our care and the assistance that the Children’s Burn Foundation provides.”

Dr. Reiss admits that every time a child and family rush into the emergency department with significant burns, it’s hard. He holds on to the success stories and lets the family know they will be one too.

“When a child and family come in, I’m helping them through the most trying time in their lives. I tell them: ‘OK, this is hard right now, but I know in time I’ll see you dancing at our Christmas party. You’ll get through this. I’ve seen it.’ And it’s a wonderful feeling.”