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15th Wing kicks off 2012 AFAF Campaign

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii --  The 15th Wing is marching in step with the annual six-week long, Air Force-wide campaign which began March 26 to raise money for the Air Force Assistance Fund.

The AFAF is an annual effort to raise funds for charitable affiliates that provide support to active duty Airmen, retirees, reservists, guardsmen, dependents and surviving spouses in need. The official AFAF organizations include the Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Villages. Inc., the General and Mrs. Curtis LeMay Foundation, and the Air Force Enlisted Village, Inc.

While the three latter charities focus primarily on providing quality of life services and aid to retirees and the widows and widowers of retired Air Force personnel, the Air Force Aid Society helps more than 35,000 Airmen, both active and retired, and eligible family members with financial assistance programs totaling nearly $20 million.

"Airmen need to know that the money they donate is being used in more positive ways than they can imagine," said Tech. Sgt. Melissa Rohloff, 15th Wing Staff Agencies AFAF unit project officer. "Donating to the AFAF is much more meaningful than just filling out a piece of paper. The lives of our peers and the lives of those who have made the Air Force what it is today depend on the donations we all make."

Gary Hasegawa, an AFAS officer, said two of the many places Airmen can see donations in action are the interest free "Falcon" loans offered by the Warfighter and Family Services center, and the Spouse Tuition Assistance Program.

"We provided loans of $105,000 last year alone from basic living, vehicle repair and emergency leave," he said. "We also granted $42,000 through the STAP program. All the money is used for a great purpose here."

General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, said that many generations of Airmen depend on the generosity of the current one.

"Our Air Force active duty, guard members, reservists, retirees, and family members have relied on our four AFAF affiliate charities for nearly four decades," he said. "Over that time, the charities have provided a full range of much-needed services--over $22.2 million in 2010 alone. This year, it is not about Airmen giving more, but about more Airmen giving."

The goal for Team Hickam is $110,585 dollars raised in total. Other objectives include 100 percent contact with all service-members by April 6, one organized fundraiser per unit, and 100 percent accountability of all funds and forms. The campaign ends May 6.

To donate to the AFAF, contact a respective unit project officer. For more information about the Air Force Assistance Fund, visit www.afassistancefund.org.