Dennis Gardin Receives 2011 Breslau Award

The 10th Annual Alan & Delwyn Breslau Award, the highest distinction the Phoenix Society can bestow, was presented to both Dennis Gardin and Cindy Rutter. This annual award honors a Phoenix Society member who has, through a collaborative spirit, significantly enhanced the ability of the Phoenix Society to fulfill its mission of peer support, education, and advocacy. By virtue of his or her character, integrity, and the service he or she provides to those impacted by a burn injury, this person has enhanced the burn community at large.

As a teenager, Dennis was burned over 70% of his body in a horrific motorcycle explosion, which resulted in a 3-week coma, an 8-month hospital stay, more than 4 dozen surgeries and years of painful therapy and rehabilitation. His injuries caused him to hide in isolation for 2 years in the confines of his parents’ home, allowing his dreams to die and hopes to fade. But, with the unwavering love and support of family and friends, Dennis began to focus on the purpose for his life as he came to understand that real strength is seeking support when needed and true courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to move forward in spite of the obstacles.

Dennis has grown from the challenging life-lessons along his journey of self-discovery to become a professional speaker, ministrant, facilitator, and consultant working with individuals and a variety of organizations in both the nonprofit and private sectors across the globe. In addition to being actively involved in the burn community for nearly 20 years, Dennis is in constant demand as a keynote speaker and presenter for a wide range of national and international conferences, workshop facilitator for sensitivity and awareness trainings, and volunteer for numerous burn camps for children.

Dennis’ business achievements include being the president and founder of LIFEWORX, a speaking and consulting firm; a former television talk show host and radio personality; an owner/operator of an independent music retail establishment; a hospital administrator; and CEO of an independent living center for persons with disabilities. His current position as executive director of the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation allows him the opportunity to have an even greater impact, through serving the agency’s mission, to partner with the fire service and burn care community in Georgia to provide fire safety and prevention education, support medical facilities, and assist burn survivors in their journey of recovery. He currently also sits on the board of directors of the Federation of Burn Foundations.

From driving a bus of attendees to World Burn Congress to serving on its board of directors, Dennis had been an active supporter of the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. He even packed up the Society’s office, when it was moving from Nashua, New Hampshire, and drove the truck to the office’s new location in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has been a keynote speaker at the World Burn Congress and in 1995, when the event was held in Detroit, Michigan, he chaired the planning committee.

As an inspirational speaker, Dennis’ message of overcoming obstacles and appreciating life has had an impact not only on members of  the burn survivor community, but also the fire service profession, healthcare industry and the general public.