CAFB kicks off AFAF drive

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles Dickens
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  From March 26 to May 4, Columbus Air Force Base will be hosting the annual Air Force Assistance Fund campaign. 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.

Last year, Team BLAZE raised $40,528 for the AFAF campaign, surpassing the goal of $34,198. The goal for 2012 is to raise $33,120 with a target of 50 percent participation from all active duty members assigned to Columbus. If each member of team BLAZE donates $1 per paycheck or $2 per month through the Payroll Deduction Plan, the base goal will again be shattered! Money 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. 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. CAFB 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 AF 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 AF enlisted personnel. To accomplish its mission AFEV acquired 379 housing units at two comfortable northwest Florida facilities. Widows of enlisted men live here among peers and share memories of AF 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.

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 AF family. Ultimately, the campaign comes down to AF people helping AF people. As such, it is purely voluntary.

If you would like to donate to the AFAF campaign, contact your squadron representative to fill out a contribution form. All donations are given directly to the AFAF. For further information please visit the AFAF website at www.afassistancefund.org. For further information, contact your group POC.

Operations Group - 1st Lt. Ryan Sullivan, 434-1621
Mission Support Group - 2nd Lt. Nicholas Charney, 434-7406
Medical Group - Maj. Charles Malone, 434-2331
Wing Staff Agencies - Capt. David Bervig, 434-7002