Air Force Assistance Fund campaign kicks off Feb. 14

  • Published
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  The Air Force Assistance Fund "Commitment to Caring" campaign runs Feb. 14 to May 6.

Program officials invite Airmen to contribute to any of the Air Force’s four official charitable organizations.

The charities benefit active-duty, Reserve, Guard, retired servicemembers, surviving spouses and families. This is the 32nd year of the fund drive, where the four charities receive 100 percent of designated contributions.

"The need for (Air Force Aid Society) assistance remains strong," said retired Lt. Gen. Mike McGinty, Air Force Aid Society chief executive officer. "Last year, the Air Force Aid Society helped more than 30,000 Airmen with $21.1 million in assistance -- that is a lot of help.

"Contributions are vital for the society to sustain this kind of help; it is truly an Airmen-helping-Airmen program," General McGinty said.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper recently announced a $5.4 million goal. Last year, Airmen gave $6.7 million to the fund.

People can contribute through cash, check, money order or payroll deduction to the following charities:

-- The Air Force Aid Society. AFAS provides Airmen and their families worldwide emergency financial assistance, education assistance and an array of base-level community-enhancement programs. Information is available online at www.afas.org.

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

-- The Air Force Village Indigent Widow's Fund. Air Force Village is a life-care community in San Antonio 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. The foundation provides rent and financial assistance to indigent widows and widowers of officers and enlisted Airmen in their own homes and communities. The LeMay Foundation Web site is www.info@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. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service)