86th FSS hosts final Year of Giving Back event, gives away car

Story and photos by Senior Airman Devin Boyer
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Kaiserslautern Military Community members attend the 86th Force Support Squadron’s Year of Giving Back Finale Feb. 2 at the Ramstein Enlisted Club. Over the course of 2017, the 86th FSS gave away a total of $132,756.85 worth of prizes to KMC members.
Yvonne Higby, Vogelweh Elementary School employee, starts up a 2018 Mini Cooper during the 86th Force Support Squadron’s Year of Giving Back Finale Feb. 2 at the Ramstein Enlisted Club. Higby won the car after successfully selecting the correct key among three other finalists.

The 86th Force Support Squadron hosted an event highlighting the finale of the “Year of Giving Back Campaign” at the Ramstein Enlisted Club, Feb. 2.

Over the course of 2017, the 86th FSS hosted 85 different events filled with giveaways and rewards as a way to pay-it-forward to the Kaiserslautern Military Community. The finale marked the 86th event, featuring the grand prize of a 2018 Mini Cooper.

“The military community here is pretty special,” said Meaghan Winn, 86th FSS marketing visual information specialist. “Being an overseas base, we miss a lot of what’s going on back at home. When you come here, you’re excited about travel, but a lot of people hit that portion of their tour here where they get kind of depressed. So we just wanted to make sure we were hitting every person on this base with as many events as possible so they know that we are there for them in every aspect of their life.”

In total, $132,756.85 went into the campaign, all of which came from the 86th FSS.

“Our squadron is supported by our community,” said Winn. “When you are using our facility’s services, at the end of the day, you are supporting your own base. That money goes right back into the community.”

Yvonne Higby, Vogelweh Elementary School employee, holds a “winner” license plate during the 86th Force Support Squadron’s Year of Giving Back Finale Feb. 2 at the Ramstein Enlisted Club. After winning the 2018 Mini Cooper, Higby described the feeling as overwhelming and thanked the 86th FSS for the gift.

During the event, four grand-prize finalists each chose a set of car keys, but only one key belonged to the Mini Cooper. After the first two finalists failed at starting the car with their selected keys, the third finalist received a pleasant surprise.

“I flipped [the key] and the light turned red…it felt like I blacked out, you’re so excited that you don’t remember,” said Yvonne Higby, Vogelweh Elementary School employee, describing the moment she won the car. “It was overwhelming.”

Friends and family swarmed Higby to congratulate her, including her husband who works in the 86th Maintenance Group. Together, they walked away with a brand new car all thanks to the 86th FSS and the military community.

“Thank you FSS for everything,” said Higby. “I am very excited.”

Chief Master Sgt. Micheal Higby, 86th Maintenance Group, embraces his wife Yvonne Higby, winner of a new 2018 Mini Cooper, during the 86th Force Support Squadron’s Year of Giving Back Finale Feb. 2 at the Ramstein Enlisted Club. The event was the 86th and final event for the Year of Giving Back campaign.
Lt. Col. Renee Thuotte, 86th Force Support Squadron commander, cheers during the Year of Giving Back Finale Feb. 2 at the Ramstein Enlisted Club. The Year of Giving Back campaign consisted of 86 events spread out over the course of 2017 dedicated to giving back to the Kaiserslautern Military Community.