AFAF kick-off campaign begins

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Edwards is hosting the annual Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign kick-off on Monday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Medical Clinic's multi-purpose room. 

The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, which begins Monday and runs through April 27, was established to provide an annual effort to raise funds for affiliates that gives assistance to Air Force active duty, retirees, reservists, guardsmen and their dependents. 

"Unit representatives will be assigned to contact 100 percent of military personnel at Edwards to let them know verbally what the (AFAF) is about," said 1st Lt. Leo Somera, the 95th Aerospace Medical Squadron readiness element leader and the 95th Air Base Wing AFAF program officer. "Flyers, posters and pamphlets will be available for people to get information. There is also a Web site available that will explain the campaign and where one can print a donation form to turn into their representative." 

The organizations that the funds will be helping are the Air Force Enlisted Village Foundation, the Air Force Villages Foundation, the Air Force Aid Society and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation. In case of a unique emergency, these organizations help Air Force families with education needs or offer a retirement home for widows or widowers of Air Force members. 

"The Air Force Aid Society, which is based locally, helps active-duty members and their families with financial emergencies," said Capt. Frank Yoon, the 95th Air Base Wing assistant staff judge advocate and the AFAF installation project officer. "It also assists reservists and guardsmen who are extended active duty or are facing an emergency."

The AFAS disburses about $11 million yearly, often more when faced with disaster responses such as hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. 

Now in their 10th year, the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation was built to provide financial assistance to spouses who supported the careers of their husbands as they served as officers and enlisted personnel, who retired before the Survivor Benefit Plan was created. 

Since 1967, the Air Force Enlisted Village Indigent Widows' Fund provides a safe and secure location for indigent surviving spouses of retired Air Force personnel. The Village's primary goal and focus is to provide a home and financial assistance. The fund provides widows of career retired Air Force officers with cost-effective living options. For more than 30 years, the AFVIWF gave more than $10 million dollars of assistance. 

While the organization would like everyone to give during the campaign, it is not mandated, Capt. Yoon said. 

"We would just like to give everyone the opportunity to learn about the programs available to them," he said. 

For more information about the Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign visit http://afassistancefund.org/.

Editors note: This article is the first in a two-part series highlighting the Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign.