Airmen help Airmen with AFAF donations Published April 14, 2010 By Senior Airman Andrew Davis 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The 2010 Air Force Assistance Fund will allow Team Scott Airmen to contribute to multiple charities that directly affect other Airmen. The campaign, which began March 29, runs through May 14 and 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. "This is one of the two major fund drives the Air Force is involved in annually," said Chaplain (Capt.) Michael Carey, 375th Air Mobility Wing, AFAF project officer. "AFAF, unlike the Combined Federal Campaign, was created by Airmen for Airmen." The AFAS component of the AFAF is the only fund of the four that assists active-duty Airmen. "Many Airmen have seen the positive affects of the AFAS," said Chaplain Carey. "The AFAS provides grants and interest-free loans on case-by-case basis to help Airmen in need of financial assistance." The charity goes beyond just helping Airmen with emergency financial assistance, providing more than $2 million last year to various community enhancements programs. "Many Airmen may not know it, but the AFAS provides funding for the Give Parents a Break program, Bundles for Babies, Phone Home as well as care for spouses of deployed Airmen, and these are just a few of the programs that the AFAS helps to fund," said the Chaplain. "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 wing's goal is to raise $38,000 for AFAF with an installation goal of $116,500. Donation opportunities will be available at the Base Exchange and Commissary and in individual units. For more information or to become a unit project officer for AFAF, contact Chaplain Carey at 256-3938, 1st Lt. Inna Hernandez at 256-3608 or Senior Master Sgt. Len Arsenault at 256-5403. AFAF 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/Location/Location_index.cfm More information: www.afas.org