Air Force Assistance Fund: Helping those in need

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
Thanks to the Air Force Assistance Fund, many widows of career Airmen have a home and are financially provided for. Approximately $15 million is provided for emergency financial assistance every year, and more than 2,000 spouses received tuition assistance in 2008. 

The AFAF, the Air Force's annual fund drive where Airmen help Airmen and their families, consists of four charities; The Air Force Enlisted Village Indigent Widows Fund, Air Force Village Indigent Widows Fund, Air Force Aid Society National Headquarters and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation. 

Every year Airmen, civilians and retirees contribute millions to support one another, and that support continues today through the 2009 AFAF campaign, which began here March 16. 

Supporting the AFAF is very important, said Col. Robert L. Maness, 55th Wing vice commander. 

This is the one fund that is all about Airmen helping Airmen, Colonel Maness said. 

The AFAF comes through even in the most difficult times, he continued. 

"When my Father was ill and I needed to be brought back to the United States from a forward deployment on short notice, the AFAF got me home," Colonel Maness said. The charities who make up the AFAF step up to assist, without fail, he added. 

Supporting the fund is vital, said 55th Wing Command Chief Master Sgt., Lisa A. Sirois. "The AFAF is more than just another fundraiser," she said. 

Leaders and supervisors have a responsibility to educate the force, especially the most junior Airmen, civilians, officers and enlisted personnel on the significance of the campaign, Chief Sirois added. 

If leaders don't show support for the AFAF and stress its importance than our Airmen won't understand how valuable it is, and the fund could dwindle away all together", the Chief explained. 

Each of the four charities that make up the AFAF has supported Airmen and their families for years. 

The Air Force Village, a non-profit military officers retirement community in San Antonio, Texas, dedicated to "exceptional retirement living and the individual well-being of their residents," according to the organizations website, operates two retirement communities. 

Air Force Village I, located near Lackland AFB, Texas, opened in 1970 and is home to more than 500 retired career officers from all branches of military service, their spouses, widows and widowers. Air Force Village II, seven miles away, is a neighborhood of 700 residents. 

As the Air force Village assists officers and their family members, the Air Force Enlisted Village, located near Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field in Northwest Florida, provides the same support to enlisted surviving spouses. 

The Enlisted Village manages three properties; the Bob Hope Village, Teresa Village and Hawthorne House. The organization has provided homes for more than 1,625 spouses since 1975. 

Another organization that has been a large part of the AFAF for many years is the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation. The foundation offers financial assistance to widows of all retired Air Force personnel and indigent widows in need. 

Widows of all Air Force retirees, both officers and enlisted, have benefited through the foundations grants. According to the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay web site, there is no limit to financial aid as several widows have received monthly checks for over six years. 

One of the most well known charities within the AFAF is the Air Force Aid Society, the official charity of the Air Force. It is chartered to assist in relieving financial emergencies faced by active-duty members and their families. About $15 million in emergency assistance is disbursed every year. 

Along with providing much needed financial aid, the AFAS manages the Gen. Henry H. Arnold Grant Program, which has given more than 85,000 grants since 1988. The society also supports the Gen. George S. Brown Spouse Tuition Assistance Program, which assists spouses with educational costs. 

The AFAS along with the other three charities within the AFAF rely on contributions to accomplish their mission. 

"Our largest fundraiser has always been the Air Force Assistance Fund," said retired Lt. Gen. John D. Hopper, Jr., the chief executive officer of the AFAS. 

"I sit in awe of the great support our Airmen have given to the AFAS," General Hopper said. 

Even though General Hopper is thrilled with the contributions the AFAF has made over the years, he said he believes there is still room for improvement. 

"The AFAF goal is usually met with less than 30 percent overall participation; I challenge our commanders to help us improve to 50 percent. For an organization whose motto is "Airmen helping Airmen," 50 percent doesn't seem too much to ask, the general said. 

To make a contribution contact your squadron AFAF representative or visit the AFAF web site at http://www.afassistancefund.org/