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15th Wing gears up for 2015 AFAF drive

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Terri Paden
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  In the spirit of giving back to the Air Force community, the 15th Wing is preparing its 2015 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, which begins March 23 and runs through May 1, 2015.

The six-week campaign begins with an AFAF Kickoff Reception March 23 where the first official campaign contributions will be given.

The AFAF is an annual fundraiser for charitable organizations that provide support to the Air Force community, including active duty, reservist and air guard Airmen, their dependents and retirees.

The charitable organizations include the Air Force Villages, Inc.; the Air Force Aid Society, Inc.; the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation; and the Air Force Enlisted Village, Inc.  Donations made to these organizations directly support Airmen and their families.

Master Sgt. Lisa Deal, 15th Medical Operations Squadron, and Master Sgt. Marty Treml, 647th Civil Engineer Squadron, are the installation project officers for this year's campaign. 

Additionally, every 15th WG unit will have an AFAF keyworker in charge of coordinating the collection of donations and ensuring the AFAF goals of 100 percent contact with their unit personnel and having 25 percent of them donate. 

According to Deal, keyworkers are highly encouraged to host an AFAF fundraiser to assist with the overall donations. 

"This year the goal is to have those who donate do so at 0.2 percent of their base pay; with the base goal of raising $108,746," said Deal. "More importantly, the main goal is to focus more on increasing participation. "What this means is getting more people to donate even if it is at a lesser value."

Deal said the key to having a successful campaign is to ensure Airmen are fully informed about the charities.

"It's not just handing out a pamphlet," she said. "We want the volunteers to make sure that everyone knows the importance of these four charities and how they truly give back to our own, and that 100 percent of the donated amount goes to the charity of choice. I believe that the more people understand what these four organizations are about the more likely they are to give."  

Deal said donors are encouraged to learn more about the charities the AFAF supports, and can find their website links at https://www.afassistancefund.org.  For more information on Hickam's AFAF campaign, contact Deal at 448-6142 or email lisa.deal@us.af.mil, or Treml at 449-3199 or email marty.treml@us.af.mil.