AFAF donations aid AF community

Published March 28, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The Air Force Assistance Fund drive runs March 26 through May 12 to raise funds for a variety of programs designed to provide support ranging from financial assistance to care for military widows. This year Team Seymour has a goal of raising $83,445.

"I think what makes military service so unique, especially when compared with other organizations, is that we've always taken care of our own," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Christopher Collins, 334th Fighter Squadron Instructor Upgrade Course student.

The AFAF is the official charity of the Air Force; designed to provide worldwide assistance to Airmen and their families.

"Last year the Air Force Aid Society donated nearly $307,000 to helping Airmen from Seymour Johnson, with more than 95 percent of that support being given to our young enlisted," Collins said. "The LeMay Foundation, the Air Force Village and the Air Force Enlisted Village all provide support for our military members who have gone before us and are now in a position where they need help taking care of themselves. I want to know that my family will be taken care of should anything happen to me and the AFAF does exactly that."

The four charities that benefit from the campaign drive are the Air Force Aid Society, the Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, the Air Force Enlisted Village and the Air Force Village.
- The Air Force Enlisted Village was founded in 1967 and is located near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The enlisted village provides a safe, secure and dignified home to indigent widows of retired Air Force enlisted members. For details, visit www.afenlistedwidows.org.

- The Air Force Village provides retirement living, with access to continuing health care, for military officers who served honorably and their spouses, with priority to retired Air Force officer widows and widowers in need of financial assistance. This village is located in San Antonio. For more information, go to www.airforcevillages.com.

- The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation helps widows of all Air Force retirees, both officers and enlisted, through financial grants of assistance. The LeMay Foundation website is www.lemay-foundation.org.

- The Air Force Aid Society provides Airmen and their families with worldwide emergency financial assistance, education assistance and base-level, community-enhancement programs. Funds raised during the 2011 campaign AFAF charities provided direct assistance to more than 44,000 Air Force members and their families totaling more than $18 million in aid. The A&FRC has full details on programs and eligibility requirements. Additional information is available at www.afas.org.

Donations made to the AFAS provide a direct benefit to each Air Force installation. In 2011, of the funds distributed to the Seymour Johnson community, $223,827 were given to Airmen in the form of loans and grants; $58,000 went toward education grants and spouses' tuition assistance and $25,847 was applied to community programs.

"Air Force Aid is 24/7," said Jay Jenkins, 4th Fighter Wing Air Force Aid officer and Airman & Family Readiness Center community specialist. "I get goose bumps when I start talking about it."

As the wing Air Force Aid officer Jenkins helps Airmen and their families who are experiencing financial struggles. Recently an Airman came to him needing financial assistance.

"He had a newborn baby and his spouse was not working," Jenkins said. "There was an emergency in his family where his dad was really ill. The Airman needed to fly home, but could not afford a loan right now. So I called Air Force Aid and they gave me a grant to fly him home round trip. This is why it is important to contribute to the society."

Any donation regardless of size, makes a difference. In addition, donations are tax deductable.

"I realize any sort of donation means some sacrifice," Collins said. "For my wife and I, we've agreed that our sacrifice will be to go out to dinner less in order to cover our donation. A small sacrifice on our part will make a world of difference to a fellow Airman who is in dire need of support. No donation is too small as every single penny collected is sent to and used by the AFAF to help our brothers and sisters in need."

Donations can be made via cash, check, money order or payroll deduction. For more information about the AFAF, visit www.afassistancefund.org/ or contact a unit AFAF representative.