Air Force plans first official charity ball Published Feb. 10, 2004 By Staff Sgt. Melanie Streeter Air Force Print News WASHINGTON -- The Air Force is holding its first official charity ball April 3 at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. The proceeds will go to the Air Force Aid Society, the official charity of the Air Force.“This is the first-ever official charity ball, and we only want it to get bigger and better,” said Cathy Chilton, the ball’s publicity chair. “But we’re going to start out big too.”The goal is to raise between $100,000 and $200,000, Mrs. Chilton said.These funds are an important contribution at a time when AFAS is handling a record-breaking number of requests for aid, said retired Lt. Gen. Michael McGinty, AFAS chief executive officer.“Requests started to increase after Sept. 11, 2001, with the call-up of the Guard and Reserve,” General McGinty said.Members of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve face a daunting task when they leave behind their civilian jobs. They sometimes take a cut in pay, as well as deal with the expenses of running two separate households, the general said. Another contributing factor to the rise in requests for aid is the deployment of many active-duty airmen.“Young airmen who may have been working a second job have to give it up because of deployments or longer work hours at their home station,” General McGinty said. “Those with children often try to split up their work schedules with a spouse to avoid paying for child care, and they can’t do that any more.”All of this led to the AFAS contributing $23.6 million dollars in assistance to more than 30,000 active-duty airmen, reservists, guardsmen, retirees and their families.“Air Force Aid is designed to help (this group) wherever, whenever and however it can,” the general said. “Having a major fundraising effort like this is very (much) appreciated by the Air Force Aid Society’s board of trustees.”The Air Force Band will provide entertainment and music for the dancing portion of the ball, Mrs. Chilton said.Ticket prices are pro-rated by grade, and everyone from airman basic to civilian employees are invited to attend, Mrs. Chilton said. However, seating is limited and reservations must be made in advance by March 1.To make reservations, or for more information, call Linda Bolton, at (703) 968-9061 or Kathy McGuth at (703) 823-3663.“This is just one more way for the Air Force family to help the Air Force family,” Mrs. Chilton said.