Balls of Fire, a memorial golf fundraiser May 12 in honor of volunteer firefighter Dan Stack, will benefit Camp KOALA, a free five-day summer camp for children in the region who have suffered burn injuries.

Money raised from the event, which will be held at Wildwood Country Club along Sample Road in Hampton, will go toward the camp, a cause that his wife, Sue, said was important to her late husband.

“Dan felt that these camps are an amazing healing experience for these burn victims and very important for their physical and mental healing process,” Sue Stack said. “It’s just an amazing experience to these kids. You don’t feel like you’re different. It’s just a great place.”

The fundraiser is being held through the WWDD Foundation — short for What Would Dan Do — which his family established to raise money for various nonprofits that were important to Stack.

The father of three — Riley, 21, Kelby, 18, and Mulaney, 16 — passed away unexpectedly at 51 on May 10, 2024, at his McCandless home.

Stack was a longtime volunteer firefighter at the Highland Volunteer Fire Department and Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company, both in McCandless. He previously held positions as a safety and security director for the North Allegheny School District and as fire marshal for the Town of McCandless. His son, Riley, 21, volunteered alongside him at Highland.

Stack most recently served as the safety manager for Goettle, a geotechnical engineering and construction company.

“Serving the community was one of his most honorable attributes,” Sue Stack said. “He was very passionate about helping the community. WWDD keeps his spirit of giving alive. We can still honor him in a way he would like.”

The original Balls of Fire golf outing, Dan’s brainchild, was a way to thank local firefighters while encouraging them to bring a friend to the outing in a recruitment effort for McCandless’ volunteer departments, said Shawn O’Brien, a life member at Highland and 30-year friend of Dan’s.

Right now, the organizers are looking for sponsors and donors from local businesses for the event. Sponsorships ranging from $500 to $3,000 are available, and items for the auction are needed.

As for the foursomes, O’Brien said they tend to fill up quickly but there will be a waiting list.

“Our priority now is obtaining donations for the giveaways and raffles, and for sponsorships of the holes, tees and the event. Those sponsorships will also be open until April 30 so we have time to produce the signage and programs to ensure the sponsors get the appropriate amount of visibility to contributing to this great cause,” he said.

The deadline to donate for other door prizes and auction items is May 5. Monetary donations also are being accepted.

The goal is to raise at least $10,000 for the camp.

Camp KOALA (Kids Overcoming, Adapting, Learning and Achieving) is run by volunteer staff and counselors, including medical professionals from West Penn Hospital and other organizations. The summer camp began in 1986 by the West Penn Burn Center to provide physical and emotional healing in a supportive and fun environment for children 7 to 17 who have been treated at the West Penn Burn Center, said Keith Gmiter, director of development at Allegheny Health Network.

Gmiter said the camp is a safe haven for pediatric burn survivors to talk and relate to other children with similar experiences.

He relayed the importance of the camp for participants.

One camper, K.S., said it best when asked about what she doesn’t like: “Missing camp, missing the no drama, missing the only place where everyone has things in common.”

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Foundation, along with generous individuals, corporations and foundations, underwrites the camp.

Checks for the golf event should be made payable to Highland Volunteer Fire Department with Balls of Fire Golf Outing marked on the memo line. They can be mailed to Highland Volunteer Fire Department, 8705 Harold Place, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237, with Attn: Balls/Fire Golf Outing marked on the envelope. To arrange a pickup or drop-off, call 412-298-9139 or 412-780-3566.

To register to golf or to get on the waitlist once the foursomes are filled, call Ralph Pagone at 412-298-9139.

A variety of prizes will be available at the event, including ones for longest drive, longest putt, putting contest and a chance to win a new 2025 Ford Bronco Sport with a hole-in-one. An auction, 50-50 raffle and margarita machines along the course will be featured.

O’Brien noted Stack will be honored the weekend of May 2-4 at the National Fire Academy in Maryland at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. His name will be added to the 2025 Roll of Honor for firefighters who died in 2024.

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