Wrapping up the annual Air Force Assistance Fund campaign May 7, the generosity of U.S. Air Forces in Europe members allowed the command to exceed this year’s monetary goal by 69 percent.
The USAFE team donated more than $767,000 during the campaign, which ran from Feb. 16 to May 7, said Sammie Edwards, USAFE AFAF project manager for the 2004 campaign. The goal for 2004 was $453,808.39.
“It’s wonderful that even though the Air Force increased the goal by almost $36,000 from last year, our USAFE members stepped up to the challenge and far exceeded this goal,” said Ms. Edwards. “Contact was made with 99 percent of our USAFE personnel, and 9,890 members contributed to help make this year’s campaign a success. Gen. Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong, USAFE commander, attributes the campaign’s success to the installation project officers, the unit key workers and all the people who believe in and contributed to the AFAF.
“The campaign’s permanent theme is ‘Commitment to Caring,’” said General Foglesong. “Through the Air Force Assistance Fund, we’re able to give right back to our Air Force family and that’s exactly what people did. It’s a truly magnificent effort and very gratifying to see the sense of support our people provided; it’s apparent that USAFE cares.”
The annual AFAF campaign supports four charitable service-oriented organizations benefiting active-duty, Reserve, Guard and retired Air Force members and their families, including surviving spouses and families: the Air Force Aid Society (Air Force’s official charity); the Air Force Enlisted Men’s Widows and Dependents Home Foundation Inc.; the Air Force Village Indigent Widow’s Fund and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.