Columbus AFB shatters AFAF goal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles Dickens
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The 2013 Air Force Assistance Fund on Columbus Air Force Base officially ended April 12 and the numbers are in! One-third of all Air Force bases are still taking part in the AFAF as there were three different phases beginning and ending on different dates.

The 14th Flying Training Wing goal for the 2013 AFAF was $35,570, $2,450 more than the previous year. Team BLAZE raised over $47,000 for the campaign last year, which was surpassed this year.

Columbus AFB raised over $58,000 to benefit the Air Force Assistance Fund this year which is 163 percent of the original goal, the highest percent of all bases that have completed their campaign so far. Team BLAZE also has the third highest rate of participation so far with 31 percent, only behind Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho and Altus Air Force Base, Okla.

The money that was raised during the AFAF campaign goes directly to four charitable organizations designed to benefit active duty, Reserve, Guard, and retired Air Force personnel and their families: 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. This organization provides interest-free loans or grants during personal and family emergencies, as well as education grants for children and spouses of active duty personnel. On average the AFAS gives approximately $20 million to over 40,000 Airmen.

Locally, the AFAS funds the Heartlink, Bundles of Joy and Give Parents a Break free day care program for families in need. In 2009, the AFAS dedicated roughly $24 million in monetary assistance to over 45,000 people. Columbus AFB personnel received more than $61,000 in assistance from the Air Force Aid Society. This includes 97 individuals who received personal assistance in the forms of grants and interest-free loans, and more than 400 people who utilized our community programs for new Air Force spouses, new or expectant parents, childcare programs and the car care program.

The Air Force Enlisted Village Foundation was created to care for widows, widowers and dependents of Air Force enlisted personnel. To accomplish its mission AFEV acquired 379 housing units at two comfortable northwest Florida facilities. Widows of enlisted men live there among peers and share memories of Air Force life without the stigma normally associated with subsidized housing facilities.

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 over $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 with no strings attached. In 2011 the foundation gave over $398,000 in assistance that supported 71 windows who's income fell below the poverty line.

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