Air Force Assistance Fund campaign in full swing

  • Published
  • Air Force Personnel News Service
This year's Air Force Assistance Fund "Commitment to Caring" campaign, which runs locally today until May 4, will provide Airmen the opportunity to contribute to any of the four official Air Force charitable organizations. 

Now in its 33rd year, 100 percent of designated AFAF contributions will benefit active-duty, Reserve, Guard, retired Air Force people, surviving spouses and families. Last year, Airmen exceeded the campaign goal by contributing more than $7.3 million. 

Airmen need look no further than the aftermath of last year's hurricanes to understand the benefit the fund provides the Air Force community. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley addressed this recently in a joint memorandum for the Air Force Assistance Fund: 

"Last year, hurricanes Katrina and Rita vividly demonstrated the need for rapid and reliable emergency assistance. Our four AFAF charities -- the Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Enlisted Village Indigent Widows' Fund, Air Force Village Indigent Widows' Fund and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation -- provided immediate financial and housing assistance to our active duty, Reserve, Air National Guard and retired Air Force members. This was in addition to their normal ongoing assistance with the hardships of deployments, accidents, illness, aging and death." 

General Moseley recently announced a $5.4 million goal for this year's fund drive.
People can contribute through cash, check, money order or payroll deduction to: 

-- The Air Force Aid Society, which provides Airmen and their families with worldwide emergency financial assistance, education assistance and an array of base level community-enhancement programs. Base family support centers have full details on programs and eligibility requirements. Information is also available online at http://www.afas.org. 

-- The Air Force Enlisted Village Indigent Widow's Fund in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., near Eglin Air Force Base, which provides rent subsidy and other support to indigent widows and widowers of retired enlisted people 55 and older. More information is available at www.afenlistedwidows.org. 

-- The Air Force Village Indigent Widow's Fund in San Antonio, which is a life-care community for retired officers, spouses, widows or widowers and family members. The Air Force Village Web site is www.airforcevillages.com. 

-- The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, which provides rent and financial assistance to indigent widows and widowers of officers and enlisted people in their own homes and communities. The LeMay Foundation Web site is www.lemayfoundation.org.
Contributions to the AFAF are tax deductible. For more information, visit afassistancefund.org or the Air Force Personnel Center's voting and fundraising Web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/votefund. 

Installation project officers have information on local procedures and goals. 

For more information, contact the corresponding group keyworker listed below.

4th Maintenance Group - 1st Lt. Christopher Pustka, 722-3236
4th Fighter Wing - 1st Lt. Leria Diaz, 722-3510
4th Operations Group - Capt. Ann-Kristine Thrift, 722-4459
4th Medical Group - Capt. Dolphis Hall, 722-1813
4th Mission Support Group - 1st Lt. Bruce Hebert, 722-5419