By Airman 1st Class Rochelle Clace
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Little Rock Air Force Base personnel kicked off the Air Force Assistance Fund Feb. 11 with a breakfast at Hangar 1080.
The AFAF is an Air Force wide fundraiser much like the Combined Federal Campaign, but the goal and focus is to help Airmen, veterans and their families.
“Our goal this year is to help a buddy, care for a kid and shelter a grandma,” said Capt. Thomas Armstrong, 53rd Airlift Squadron executive officer. “The Air Force Assistance Fund is here to help our Airmen and our retirees.”
The campaign runs for the next six weeks, Feb. 8 to March 19, and is comprised of four different charities, the Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Enlisted Village, Air Force Village and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.
The Air Force Aid Society provides Airmen and their families worldwide with emergency financial assistance, education assistance and an array of base-level community-enhancement programs. For more information, visit www.afas.org.
According to Kari Hurlburt, 19th Force Support Squadron, Airmen and Family Readiness Center director, the Air Force Aid Society helps support Give Parents a Break, Bundles for Babies, Car Care Because We Care, Respite Care, PCS Child Care, Deployed Families Dinner and Spouse Employment Grants.
The Air Force Enlisted Village includes Teresa Village in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. and Bob Hope Village in Shalimar, Fla., near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The fund provides homes and financial assistance to widows and widowers of retired enlisted people 55 and older. Hawthorn House, also in Shalimar, provides assisted living for residents requiring more assistance than others, including 24-hour nursing care. For more information, visit www.afenlistedwidows.org.
The Air Force Village, which includes Air Force Village I and II in San Antonio, 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 provides rent and financial assistance to widows and widowers of officer and enlisted retirees in their homes and communities through financial grants of assistance. The LeMay Foundation Web site is www.lemay-foundation.org.
The primary method for active-duty and civilian members to make a donation is through filling out a 2561 contribution form. Airmen have the option to donate through a payroll deduction or cash or check payments. Retirees have a separate contribution form. For more information on how to make a donation, contact a squadron point of contact.
The goals for the base are 100 percent contact, $90,654 contribution amount and 50 percent participation.
“The way we were so successful last year was participation,” said Col. Greg Otey, 19th Airlift Wing commander. “If we get over 50 percent participation, we’ll get the rest of the goals.”
This year, bases will compete for the top spot by being awarded points for percentage points over their goal; percentage points over 50 percent and dollars raised over last year.
Air Force Aid Society officials will award the winning installation a $2,500 cash prize. (This articles was contributed to by 1st Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen, Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs)
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