AFAF names winners of video contest Published Feb. 16, 2012 By Eric M. Grill Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force Assistance Fund officials named the AFAF 2012 fundraising campaign online video contest winners Feb. 15. The video contest was designed to motivate Airmen and their families to learn more about the annual AFAF campaign and the four AFAF affiliate charities -- Air Force Villages, Air Force Aid Society, General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, and Air Force Enlisted Village. The winner of the 59 second category is the 48th Medical Group at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, and their "Who's Watchin!" submission. The winner of the 29 second category is "The Pelican Promoters" team from the 9th Airlift Squadron at Dover AFB, Del., with their "The Safe Way to Help" submission. Judges evaluated video content, cinematography, creativity and the number of online views for each video. "The scoring was as close as some Air Force quarterly awards boards I've seen in the past," said William D'Avanzo, the Air Force voting action officer and fundraising chief. Winning videos are featured on the AFAF YouTube channel and will be played at the 9th Annual Air Force Charity Ball in Springfield, Va., on March 24. The AFAF will also name a 2012 Air Force Aid Society educational grant after the winning teams in recognition of their efforts, D'Avanzo said. "The contest was a lot of fun," D'Avanzo said. "We knew we had a lot of talent in the Air Force, and it's now on display for everyone to see on the AFAF YouTube channel." The AFAF was established as a venue to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that support the Air Force family in need, including active duty, Reserve, Guard, dependents, retirees and surviving spouses. These organizations provide aid in an emergency, educational support, and a secure retirement home for Air Force members' widows or widowers in need of financial assistance. For more information on the AFAF affiliate charities, go to http://www.afassistancefund.org. (Tech. Sgt. Steve Grever contributed to this story.)