2011 Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign

Chief Master Sgt. Jo Ann Pace, 2nd Bomb Wing command chief, and Col. Tim Fay, 2 BW commander, fill out Air Force Assistance Fund forms at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Feb. 11. The AFAF officially started Feb. 14 and will end March 25. Barksdale has a goal of $130,000 to contribute to the fund that lends critical support to Airmen and their families -- active-duty, retired, officers and enlisted. The donations to the AFAF Campaign qualify for Internal Revenue Service charitable deductions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

2011 Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign

Col. Tim Fay, 2nd Bomb Wing commander, speaks about contributions during the kick-off breakfast for the Air Force Assistance Fund at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Feb. 11. The AFAF officially started Feb. 14 and will end March 25. Barksdale has a goal of $130,000 to contribute to the fund that lends critical support to Airmen and their families -- active-duty, retired, officers and enlisted. The donations to the AFAF Campaign qualify for Internal Revenue Service charitable deductions. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

AFAF begins fundraising campaign

Published Feb. 17, 2011
By Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Air Force Assistance Fund provides support to the Air Force family -- active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and their dependents, including surviving spouses in need. To do this, they count on support from Team Barksdale during their 2011 AFAF campaign, Feb. 14 and ends March 25.

"Barksdale's, home of Air Force Global Strike Command, monetary goal this year is $113,000," said 2nd Lt. Ryan Huff, 2nd Maintenance Operations Squadron maintenance training flight commander. "The money goes directly back to Airmen in need during emergencies. Last year, $248,018 was given to Barksdale Airmen and $101,188 was raised during AFAF Campaign"

The campaign supports four organizations: the Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Village Widows Fund, the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation and the Air Force Enlisted Village Widows' Fund.

"By donating, the AFAF benefits the Air Force mission by aiding in times of an emergency, with educational needs and have a secure retirement home for widows or widowers of Air Force members in need of financial assistance," said Staff Sgt Barian Smith, 608th Air Operations Command tactical data-link manager.

The Air Force Aid Society has provided worldwide emergency assistance to Airmen and their families and sponsored educational and proactive community programs to improve quality of life.

The Air Force Enlisted Village mission is to provide a home for surviving spouses of retired enlisted Air Force members. The program offers the hand of kindness and the gift of a home. It also offers temporary housing to the surviving spouses of enlisted members who died while on active duty. AFEV has been home to more than 1,500 surviving spouses since 1975.

"Out of everything, we are asked to give for people we may never meet. This is our chance to truly help the men and women that serve next to us, both past and present," said Lieutenant Huff.

The LeMay Foundation helps widows of all Air Force retirees, both officers and enlisted, through financial grants of assistance. These widows spend much of their lives coping with the difficulties of military life and supporting their spouses through years of active duty.

The Air Force Village is a retirement community with a charitable mission, which is to care for retired Air Force officer widows who need financial assistance. The AFV has contributed more than $12 million in confidential support to indigent widows since 1970.

"It's nice to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and it's great that Airmen have taken the wingman concept into effect and continue to contribute to the AFAF," Sergeant Smith said. "Airmen can get involved by simply contacting their unit point of contact; 100 percent contact is necessary."