Andrew Mersmann
Andrew “Monkey” Mersmann joins the AARBF staff in 2022 after more than a decade as a volunteer for the foundation. His first AARBF connection was in the 1990s when he traveled the state of California doing elementary school fire safety presentations. After many years living on the east coast, he returned to California and to volunteering for AARBF as a camp counselor, Young Adult Summit mentor, board member, committee chair, and a term as president of the board of directors.
Andrew has created some of our burn prevention education programs as the writer of the fire safety puppet show for children under five, “Lucky the Fire-Burping Dragon” and as the writer of the SPARC (Senior Prevention and Risk Conversations) program for aging adults.
Andrew is the author of Frommer’s 500 Places Where You Can Make a Difference, a global guide to volunteer vacations (Gold Medal Winner—Society of American Travel Writers: Best Guide Book—including AARBF’s Champ Camp as one of the 500 volunteer opportunities). He has previously served as an executive in new media ventures and as Editor in Chief of a national travel magazine leading to travel and volunteer experiences around the world. Mersmann has been a featured speaker, interview guest, or moderator for outlets from the New York Times Travel Show, Smithsonian Associates, and the 92nd Street Y-TriBeCa to Oprah and Friends, Animal House, The Focus Group, Marie Claire, and NY1 television.
As the Director of Programs and Services, he is excited to be more closely engaged with our entire community of survivors, volunteers, fire services, medical professionals, and community partners, finding new and inspiring ways to connect and grow.
