Air Force Assistance Fund aims to support Airmen in need

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Blake Mize
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, which is geared toward raising money to put aside for Airmen and their families in times of need, commenced here recently and will run until April 16.

"The AFAF uses donations provided by Air Force personnel to help fellow Airmen in need," said Capt. Mitchell Randolph, an installation project officer for Laughlin's branch of the campaign. "AFAF provides relief to a wide array of beneficiaries. Spouses of Airmen lost in conflict, active duty members in tough financial situations and members struggling with paying for childcare can all benefit from donations."

Laughlin's AFAF leadership has set a goal to raise $31,037. In 2009 Laughlin Airmen received $29,274 for emergency assistance, $4,000 for education and $17,881 for community enhancement from AFAF funds.

Four separate causes are sustained by the AFAF. The Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Enlisted Village, the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation are all fed with funds raised during this time.

The Air Force Aid Society provides worldwide emergency assistance to Airmen and their families. In addition, it sponsors educational and community programs whose goal is to improve the quality of life of Air Force personnel. In addition, the AFAS offers interest-free emergency loans to Air Force members in need. In 2008, the AFAS provided more than $24 million in assistance to Airmen and their families.

"Essentially, Air Force personnel who donate to AFAS can actually see their donations at work in their individual community," said David Sullins, chief of Laughlin's Airman and Family Readiness Center. "Many people within the confines of the installation have received assistance when no other venue was available."

Mr. Sullins added that the AFAS has given Laughlin a grant to help transitioning personnel as well as family members develop their own private business. In July 2010, a home-based training team will visit the base and provide a six hour course; all of which will be paid for by the AFAS.

The Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation and the Air Force Enlisted Village provide homes for the widowed spouses of Air Force members. Whether an active duty member dies in combat or a retiree passes on, the AFV and the AFEV take in the deceased member's spouse and give them a home if such action is necessary. The AFV has raised more than $12 million since 1970 for indigent widows and the AFEV has been home to more than 1,500 surviving spouses since 1975.

The LeMay Foundation also supports the widows of active duty Air Force members. In 2008, the LeMay foundation contributed more than $445,000 in assistance that benefitted 64 women with monthly grants to augment incomes that fall below the poverty line. They also gave one-time grants to 23 other widows to help with necessities such as wheelchairs.

For more information or to learn how to make a donation, please contact the installation project officers for the campaign, Staff Sgt. Diana Vela at 830-298-4487 or diana.vela@laughlin.af.mil or Capt. Mitchell Randolph at 830-298-5864 or mitchell.randolph@laughlin.af.mil.