Fundraising campaign benefits Airmen Published March 27, 2013 Air Force Assistance Fund Committee SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The 2013 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign began Monday, allowing Team Scott Airmen to contribute to multiple charities that will directly impact other Airmen and military families. The campaign, which runs through May 3, allows Airmen to support the Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Village Foundation, the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation and the Air Force Enlisted Village. "These organizations provide aid to Airmen in an emergency, with educational needs, or to help provide a secure retirement home or financial assistance for widows and widowers of Air Force members," said Capt. Andrew Mackenzie Scott Air Force Base, AFAF Installation Project Officer. The Air Force Aid Society, or AFAS, component offers emergency assistance and promotes community enhancement programs. "At Scott last year, loans were given out for food, mortgage payments, emergency travel, vehicle repairs, and child care," said MacKenzie. "All of these funds were given to Air Force members from Air Force members." The charity goes beyond just helping Airmen with emergency financial assistance, providing more than $2 million last year to various community enhancement programs. "Many Airmen may not know it, but the AFAS also provides funding for the Give Parents a Break program, Bundles for Babies, Phone Home as well as care for spouses of deployed Airmen," said 1st Lt. Michael Scott, AFAF Committee. "These are just a few of the programs that the AFAS helps to fund. It's really about Airmen giving back to their Air Force community and helping each other out." In addition to the AFAS, Airmen can donate to the Air Force Village and the Air Force Enlisted Village. Both retirement communities provide surviving military spouses a safe and affordable place to live. The General and Mrs. Curtis LeMay Foundation provides grants to widows of Air Force retirees, both officer and enlisted, for as long as they need it. The installation's goal is to raise $117,630 for AFAF. Donation opportunities will be available at the Exchange and Commissary and in individual units. For more information about AFAF, contact Capt. Andrew Mackenzie, Installation Project Officer, at 256-4384; 1st Lt. Michael Scott, Assistant Installation Project Officer, at 256-8053; Tech Sgt. Amy Weller, AMC Project Officer, at 229-3312; and Lt. Col. Lanny Greenbaum, U.S. Transportation Command, at 220-3926. Air Force Assistance Fund foundations Air Force Village Who they help: Retired and honorably separated military officers from all branches of military service, their spouses, widows, widowers and eligible dependents How they help: Provides affordable retirement community in San Antonio, Texas with onsite healthcare and assisted living available. Requesting assistance: www.airforcevillages.com/air-force-village-expansion-texas More information: www.airforcevillages.com, 1-800- 724-5771 Air Force Enlisted Village Who they help: Enlisted Airmen and their widows How they help: Provides affordable retirement community in Shalimar, Fla. Requesting Assistance: www.afenlistedwidows.org/admissions.php More information: www.afenlistedwidows.org/index.php or 1-800-258-1413 The General and Mrs. Curtis LeMay Foundation Who they help: Enlisted and officer widows of retired Airmen How they help: Assistance grants through single disbursement and long term grants for extended periods. Requesting assistance: www.lemay-foundation.org/assistance.html More information: www.lemay-foundation.org/index.html The Air Force Aid Society Who they help: Active duty Airmen and their family members, retired Airmen and eligible family members, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve on active duty orders and spouses and children of deceased Airmen who died on active duty. How they help: Provide worldwide emergency assistance, sponsor education assistance programs and offer an array of base community enhancement programs that improve quality of life. Requesting Assistance: www.afas.org More information: www.afas.org