Help your fellow Airmen

  • Published
  • By Capt. John Berger and Capt. Ryan Thornton
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Travis will host the annual Air Force Assistance Fund campaign March 8 through April 16.

The AFAF drive was established with the purpose of providing financial assistance to charitable organizations that give much needed support directly to Air Force members in need.

The annual AFAF kickoff event is scheduled for March 10 from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. Key workers will be ready and waiting to hand out a dozen doughnuts to anyone who donates at least $10.

During the campaign, Team Travis will host a multitude of fundraising events, to include the AFAF golf tournament, a three-on-three basketball competition, car washes, bake sales, a video game tournament and more.

Last year, Travis raised $127,729 during the campaign. The 2010 goal is $122,899, with 100 percent contact of all active-duty members assigned to Travis. If every Team Travis member donates just $2 per month through the payroll deduction plan, the base goal will be shattered.

Money raised during the AFAF campaign goes directly to four charities: the Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Enlisted Village Foundation, the Air Force Village Foundation and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.

The Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the Air Force and was chartered to assist in relieving financial emergencies faced by active-duty members and their families. It was created in response to General Hap Arnold's concern regarding the variety of challenges Air Force members faced following World War II. The organization provides interest-free loans or grants for personal and family emergencies, education for children and spouses of active-duty personnel, child-care services, phone cards, preventative car maintenance and much more. In 2009, the AFAS dedicated $21.6 million in monetary assistance to more than 42,000 people.

The Air Force Enlisted Village Foundation was established to provide homes for surviving spouses of military veterans. Since its charter, the foundation has built three apartment complexes and has helped more than 1,625 people.

The Air Force Village Foundation was founded to provide surviving spouses of career-retired officers with cost-effective living. Since 1970, the foundation has provided more than $10 million in assistance, dedicating nearly $1 million in 2009 alone.

The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation provides financial support to widows of all retired Air Force personnel, regardless of where they live. Its main source of income is from the AFAF campaign. All money used to support spouses is given without strings attached.

The goal of the AFAF drive is to raise money so these charities may thrive and prosper in their missions to help the greater Air Force family. Ultimately, the campaign comes down to Air Force people helping Air Force people. As such, it is purely voluntary.

Anyone interested in donating should contact their unit representative to fill out a contribution form. For more information, check out the AFAF Web site at www.afassistancefund.org.

Contact wing AFAF representative Capt. John Berger at john.berger@travis.af.mil, or Capt. Ryan Thornton at ryan.thornton@travis.af.mil or your unit representative for further questions.