RAF Mildenhall kicks-off 2016 AFAF campaign

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Victoria H. Taylor
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England-- --  Team Mildenhall officially began its 2016 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign Feb. 29, 2016, on RAF Mildenhall, England. The kickoff event, held March 2, 2016, was packed with information on how and where to donate, words of encouragement, a personal story by an Airman that benefitted from AFAF, and wrapped up with the first official donations made by Col. John Howard, 100th ARW vice commander and Chief Master Sgt. Tony Cruz-Munoz, 100th ARW command chief.

"The AFAF campaign is an excellent opportunity for Airmen to pay into a system that helps fellow wingmen," said 1st Lt. Chris Bowyer-Meeder, 100th Air Refueling Wing installation project officer. "The campaign is the only one of its kind that is for Airmen and their families by Airmen."

The AFAF campaign, now in its 43rd year, will be conducted until April 8.  Contributions, which are tax deductible, go to support four different charities:

The Air Force Aid Society, which provides Airmen and their families worldwide with emergency financial assistance, education assistance and various base-level community enhancement programs.

The Air Force Enlisted Village, which supports Teresa Village in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and Bob Hope Village in Shalimar, Florida, near Eglin Air Force Base. The fund provides homes and financial assistance to retired enlisted members' widows and widowers who are 55 and older. It also supports Hawthorn House which provides assisted living for residents, including 24-hour nursing care.

The Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation, whose donations support independent and assisted living needs for retired officers and their spouses, widows or widowers and family members.

Finally, 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.

Over the next six weeks, each unit has an assigned AFAF project officer who will be available to answer questions, and explain how and where to donate, all while encouraging Airmen to help out their fellow wingmen through the charity campaign.

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