Air Force Assistance Fund: Commitment to caring

  • Published
  • By Air Force Assistance Fund campaign committee
  • Air Force Assistance Fund Staff reports
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Air Force Assistance Fund (AFAF) is an annual effort to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that provide support to our Air Force family in need (active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and our dependents, including surviving spouses). The charitable affiliate organizations provide support in an emergency, with educational needs, or a secure retirement home for widows or widowers of our Air Force members in need of financial assistance.

The four Air Force affiliate charities that support our Air Force family rely on the funds raised to accomplish our missions. The campaign’s success will enable all the charity affiliates to offer valuable resources to the Air Force community.

The 2018 campaign will run from 26 March 2018 to 4 May 2018.

Donation forms can be accessed at http://www.afassistancefund.org/

Since 1942, the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) has helped Airmen and their families in times of need. It may be for an everyday expense like a utility bill, something far more unexpected like the need to fly home for a family funeral, or a request for a special piece of medical equipment to improve the quality of life for a disabled child. Whether your emergency is big or small, AFAS is here to help — just like we did in 2016 when we provided over 13,000 emergency assists totaling $7.5 million!

In keeping with the vision of AFAS founders Gen and Mrs. “Hap” Arnold, AFAS also offers a robust education program that helps Air Force dependent children and spouses achieve their dreams of attending college. Last year, we awarded 2,332 education grants ranging from $500 to $4,000 each, 15 merit scholarships of $5,000 and 36 merit scholarships of $1,000 to the children and spouses of Air Force members.

Base Community Programs make up the third prong of our charter. In 2016, AFAS provided $1.3 million in childcare programs, phone cards, baby gifts, car care and spouse initiatives — all designed to help alleviate some of the stresses associated with military life.

Help us to continue the AFAS tradition of “Airmen helping Airmen” with your donation to the Air Force Assistance Fund. You can be confident that every dollar supports a fellow Airman. Thank you for your support!