Edwards 2010 AFAF Campaign reaches halfway point Published Feb. 25, 2010 By Airman 1st Class William A. O'Brien 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Heading into the halfway point of the 2010 Edwards AFAF Campaign, Short-term goals set by the Installation Project Officer and deputy IPO have the campaign on track to reach its goals. This year, Edwards monetary goal is $50,575 as well as 100 percent contact with all Active-Duty servicemembers. "In the short-term, our goal is to collect 50 percent of the donations and to have made contact with 50 percent of the Airmen across the base by Feb. 26," said Capt. James Athnos, Edwards IPO. "By March 5, we hope to have reached 75 percent in contact as well as donations and we hope to have reached both goals by March 12." To reach their goal, Captain Athnos said, his group project officers are out spreading the word around their group and collecting donations. "We're hitting the ground running and it is going extremely strong. At this point, all the group project officers have been trained and they're out getting the word out and getting donations," said the captain. After making his donation Feb. 24, Maj. Gen. David Eichhorn, Air Force Flight Test Center commander, said that the AFAF campaign is a good opportunity for Airmen to help one another. He continued by explain that mission requirements cause Airmen to live far from their families and when situations arise and they need to go home, it's nice to have the AFAF there to help them with that. "The Air Force Assistance Fund is an annual campaign that the Air Force does to help itself. And as such it's an absolutely critical that we provide that support," said General Eichhorn. "Our Airmen, by necessity, are stationed far away from home and if they ever need to go back and forth they're going to need help covering those expenses and the Aid Society lives up to their name by coming to their aid This year, instead of holding a kickoff event, Captain Athnos decided to use the kickoff ceremony money to purchase food to donate to Edwards most recent Dorm Dwellers Dinner. "We decided to donate all the hamburgers and buns to this month's Dorm Dweller's Dinner," said Captain Athnos. "We don't want to take any focus away from the dorm dinner though so we're going to keep it low key, but Lieutenant Goingco and I will be there helping out preparing and serving." Col. Jerry Gandy, 95th Air Base Wing commander, said the AFAF campaign is a good opportunity for Airmen to help other Airmen, both past and present. "This is an opportunity for us to look at taking care of our own and in some cases those who have gone ahead of us and to also take care of those who are in need right now, because you never know when you'll be in need," said Colonel Gandy. "It's an opportunity to give back as someone who's been blessed with a good job and with resources." For more information or to donate, call Edwards Installation Project Officer, Captain Athnos at 275-2831, the deputy Installation Project Officer, 2nd. Lt. Patrick Goingco, or a Group Project Officer. The following are the Group Project Officers: 412th Test Wing - 1st. Lt. John Karlen -- 277-2673 412th Electronic Warfare Group - 2nd. Lt. Blake Jones -- 277-6805 412th Test Management Group - 2nd. Lt. Michael Robblee -- 277-8092 412 Maintenance Group - Tech. Sgt. Noel Moux -- 277-5785 412th Operations Group - Senior Airman Jervelle Fearon -- 275-9143 and Airman 1st Class Bradley Patton -- 275-9147 412th TW/FM - Crystal Kruger -- 277-5533 412th TENG - 1st. Lt. Garrison Lindholm -- 277-4325 412th TW/XP - Jasmine Moore -- 277-5194 U.S. Test Pilot School - 1st. Lt. James Curry -- 277-5872 95th Air Base Wing Staff Agencies - Staff Sgt. Jonathan Sogka -- 277-7510 95th Communications Group - Michael Leonard -- 275-9241 95th Medical Group - Master Sgt. Tonya Freeman -- 277-3891 95th Mission Support Group - 1st Lt. Heather Snyder -- 277-2993