Air Force Assistance Fund kicks off Monday

The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign kicks off Monday, and KMC Airmen will have a chance to donate until April 12.

AFAF is a group of four charitable organizations that directly support Airmen and their families. These organizations function off the support of donations and especially benefit during the annual campaigns held on every Air Force Installation. The four organizations provide support to the entire Air Force family in need, including active-duty, retirees, reservists, guard and their dependents and surviving spouses.

The Air Force Enlisted Village provides housing to surviving widows of active-duty and retired military members. Additionally, they assist in cases of natural disasters by temporarily housing displaced families.

The Air Force Village Indigent Widows Fund works under the same principles as the Air Force Enlisted Village for widows and widowers of Air Force officers. Last year, they provided $918,000 in assistance.

The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation is a national organization that provides financial assistance to widows of Air Force personnel. Its main source of funds is the Air Force Assistance Fund contributions.

Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the Air Force. They spend approximately $15 million in emergency assistance every year. This is money that we see benefit the Airmen within our community.

Last year, the local Air Force Aid Society supplied our community with 190 loans and grants totaling $114,546. This money covered a wide range of emergencies and assisted Air Force members through financial crises, whether that was assisting with funeral expenses, dependant dental care or travel expenses on emergency leave orders.

Additionally, $50,179 was spent on community enhancements like Bundles for Babies, Phone Home Program and child care for PCS moves. Ramstein benefited by
receiving $212,000 in education grants and the Spouses Tuition Assistance Program.

This year, the AFAF goal is to raise $168,549. Contact your unit representative or one of the installation reps: 1st Lt. Kelly Barton, 435th Mission Support Squadron, 480-9794; Senior Master Sgt. Steven Wells, 1st Combat Communications Squadron, 480-0550; or Master Sgt. Ronald Williams, 721st Aicraft Maintenance Squadron, 479-4531.

(Courtesy of 435th Mission Support Squadron)