AFAF Campaign—There’s still time to donate

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The Air Force Assistance Fund kicked off March 18, 2013, at Grand Forks Air Force Base with a goal of raising $28,553.

So far, the wing has reached nearly 90 percent of that goal, raising a total of $25,267 as of April 12.

The campaign has one major fundraising event left on its calendar before wrapping up next Friday; on April 19, there will be a three-point shoot-out from 7-11 a.m. at the base fitness center, where competitors can have sponsors pledge donations for the tournament.

Senior Master Sgt. Jeri Anderson, 319th Communications Squadron High Frequency Global Communications superintendent, and 1st Lt. Gianluigi Sacco, 319th Operations Support Squadron operations officer at the airfield operations flight here, are the points of contact for the Wing.

Anderson said she became a faithful donor since she first used the services offered by AFAF early in her career.

"I needed some money to go home and see my grandparents one year when they weren't doing well," she said. "I was an airman first class, I wasn't making much money, I had no money saved up, so I applied for a loan through Air Force Aid and got it. I paid it back over the course of about a year, interest-free. Ever since then, I consistently contribute every year. This program would not exist without the generous donations o f Airmen who want to help each other out."

Sacco said that contributors can feel good about the direct impact their donation has on other Air Force members.

"The best thing about the Air Force Assistance Fund is that all proceeds go back to Air Force affiliates," he said. "This program really is by Airmen, for Airmen."

He also emphasized how important it is to donate now than ever before.

"The AFAF especially needs these funds now more than ever with the economy being what it is today," he said.

The AFAF Campaign is an annual effort to raise money for its charitable partners, including:
  • The Air Force Aid Society, which provides emergency assistance to Airmen and their families, and sponsors education and quality of life programs in communities
  • The Air Force Enlisted Village, which provides homes for surviving spouses of retired enlisted Airmen
  • Air Force Villages, a retirement community that cares for the widows of retired Air Force officers who need financial assistance
  • The Gen. and Mrs. Curtis LeMay Foundation, which awards grants to retired Airmen and their spouses in financial need.
All Air Force affiliated people, including active duty, retirees, reservists, National Guard and their family members, including surviving spouses, can apply to one of the above organizations for assistance.

"Even a donation as small as only a few dollars can make all the difference to someone who really needs it," said Anderson. "It's just a way to pay it forward."