AFAF helps Airmen, retirees, families

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarrod Grammel
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga., --  The Air Force Assistance Fund (AFAF) is scheduled to kick off March 25 and continue until May 3.

The goal of the AFAF is to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that provide support to active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and their dependents, including surviving spouses in need.

"What separates it from the [Combined Federal Campaign] is that there are only four charities that the money goes to, and all of them are to help Airmen," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Steve Morris, AFAF assistant installation project officer and 23d Wing Judge Advocate General law office superintendent.

"We are all part of that long blue line, and helping each other is part of our culture," he added. "Airmen helping Airmen is part of the pride that I feel of being in the Air Force."

The four charities of the AFAF are the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), the Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV), the Air Force Village (AFV) and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.

AFAS provides Airmen and their families with worldwide emergency financial assistance, education assistance and an array of base-level, community-enhancement programs.

The AFEV provides a safe, secure and dignified place for indigent widows of retired Air Force enlisted members. The AFEV also offers temporary housing to the surviving spouses of enlisted members who die while on active duty.

The AFV provides retirement living with access to continuing health care for military officers who served honorably and their spouses, with priority to retired Air Force officer widows and widowers in need of financial assistance.

The LeMay Foundation helps widows of all Air Force retirees, both officers and enlisted, through financial grants of assistance.

Like the CFC, donations can be made through cash, check, money order or payroll deduction. People can chose which organizations they want to give to, how much they want to give and whether they wish to make a one-time donation or spread it across several months.

"[How much you give] is all confidential," said Morris. "The keyworkers report up how much their squadron collected, but it's not broken down by individuals. No one has to worry about their amount being disclosed to anyone."

The goal for this year is $84,154. However, Team Moody typically receives far more money in aid than is donated.

"We have a definite challenge this year," said Morris. "Last year, we didn't make the goal, and it's my understanding that we haven't made the goal in the last couple of years. We need to reverse that trend this year by making that goal."

Each squadron has a keyworker, much like the CFC, who collects donations from members of their squadron. If an Airman doesn't know who their squadron keyworker is, the group keyworker should be able to point them in the right direction. Deployed Airmen can also donate by filling out a hardcopy form, scanning it and sending it to their squadron keyworker at their home station.

Click here to learn more about the AFAF.