New concept for annual AF Assistance Fund campaign announced

by 1st Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

 As part of a new Air Force concept for the annual Air Force Assistance Fund “Commitment to Caring” campaign, Team Ramstein will have the chance to contribute to four official Air Force charitable organizations from March 8 through April 16.

The campaign, now in its 37th year, will run during a designated six-week period and will feature a first-ever competition between installations within a group with similar past performances in the AFAF campaign.

Bases will compete for the top spot within each group based on point values in several categories: percent over goal, donation amount equal to or greater than the previous year’s amount, and active-duty participation rate.

Air Force Aid Society officials will award a $2,500 cash prize to the winning installation in each group to be used for programs supporting the base community.
Contributions to the AFAF benefit active-duty, Reserve and Guard members as well as retired Air Force members, surviving spouses and families.

People can contribute by cash, check or money order, or use payroll deductions for:

• The Air Force Aid Society, which provides Airmen and their families worldwide with emergency financial assistance, education assistance and an array of base-level community-enhancement programs. More information is available at www.afas.org.

• The Air Force Enlisted Village. The fund provides homes and financial assistance to widows and widowers of retired enlisted people 55 and older. It also provides assisted living for residents requiring more assistance than others, including 24-hour nursing care. For more information, visit www.afenlistedwidows.org.

• Air Force Village, which includes Air Force Village I and II in San Antonio, a life-care community for retired officers, spouses, widows or widowers and family members. The Air Force Village Web site is www.airforcevillages.com. 

• The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, which provides rent and financial assistance to widows and widowers of officer and enlisted retirees in their homes and communities through financial grants of assistance. The LeMay Foundation Web site is www.lemay-foundation.org.

In 2009, Ramstein pledged more than $250,000, contributing to the 4.9 million pledges designated to AFAF for the year.

Various squadron and unit points of contact will be going around during Ramstein’s designated time frame this year to collect pledges.

Contributions to the AFAF are tax deductible.

For more information about the charitable organizations and AFAF visit www.afassistancefund.org.

To find out base group assignments, scoring information for the new competition and additional information about the 2010 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, visit AFPC’s secure “Ask” site or call the 24/7 Total Force Service Center toll-free number at (800)-525-0102.

For more information about Ramstein’s AFAF Campaign,
contact Ramstein POCs Master Sgt. Greg Burroghs or Staff Sgt. Jessica Dewane.

(The 86th Airlift Wing public affairs office contributed to this article.)