Holloman kicks off 2012 Air Force assistance fund

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  A natural disaster ruins an Airman's home or a family member is sick and there is no money for a plane ticket to go visit. Is there money out there that doesn't have 15 percent interest rate or a monthly fixed payment? The answer is yes, the answer is the Air Force Assistance Fund.

The Air Force assistance fund was established to provide for an annual effort to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that provide support to the Air Force family (active duty, retirees, reservists, guardsmen and their dependents, including surviving spouses in need), and Holloman AFB kicked off its AFAF March 26.

"One of the biggest benefits that the AFAF provides is giving back directly to the Air Force members, said Senior Master Sgt. Rodney Wilson, 49th Operations Support Squadron. "This is the only campaign that is totally committed to the Air Force."

AFAF funds raised go to Air Force Villages, Inc.; the Air Force Aid Society Inc.; the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation; and the Air Force Enlisted Village, Inc. These organizations directly support the Air Force.

The Air Force goal for 2012 is to raise $6.4 million, with Team Holloman's contribution to that goal being $50,000 in donations. The AFAF will run for six weeks, and Airman can donate directly to AFAF by filling out the volunteer slips and turning them in to their unit project officer.

The charitable organizations tap into the money collected to provide relief to Airman in their time of need.

"I had an Airman whose brother passed away without notice. She did not have the funds to make the trip home to be with her family or attend his funeral," said Master Sgt. Monica Wagner, 49th Wing Staff Agencies first sergeant. "I got her over to the Airman and Family Readiness Center, and within an hour she had her flights booked and was on her way home to be with her family."

For more information on the AFAF and how to donate, contact the Holloman AFB AFAF lead project officer, Senior Master Sgt. Rodney Wilson at 572-7125.