KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 2020 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign for the 403rd Wing is underway until April 10.
The annual effort to raise funds for charities provides support for Air Force families in need.
The four AFAF charities receive 100 percent of contributions and benefit active-duty, Reserve, Guard, retired service members, spouses, families, and surviving spouses of deceased retirees, said Kevin Waterhouse, 403rd Wing secretary and project officer for this year’s campaign.
Organizations benefiting from the campaign include the Air Force Aid Society, General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation and Air Force Enlisted Village.
Air Force Aid Society provides Total Force Airmen and their families with financial assistance during emergencies, educational assistance and various base-level community programs such as Bundles for Babies, and the Car Care Because We Care programs.
The Air Force Enlisted Village supports retired enlisted members’ surviving spouses 55 and older with independent assisted and memory care living. Contributions also cover living expenses, meals and medical costs to ensure these men and women live in a safe, dignified, caring community. Communities are located in Shalimar, Florida, near Eglin Air Force Base.
The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation provides nearly half a million dollars in annual financial assistance grants for living expenses and resources surviving spouses of Air Force retirees may need in order to live a dignified lifestyle and stay in their homes longer. The LeMay Foundation helps with recurring grants between $250 and $750 per month as well as one-time assistance for medical expenses, car repairs, hearing aids, funeral expenses and disaster relief.
Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation provides aging seniors with a full spectrum of care ranging from independent living to long-term skilled nursing care at Blue Skies of Texas retirement community by financially assisting qualified surviving spouses of retired Air Force officers. Two communities are located in San Antonio, near Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
“The Air Force Assistance Fund is a way for the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard to assist its people in time of need,” said Waterhouse. “This program assisted Airmen and families who were impacted by Hurricane Michael in Florida and provided grants, food, supplies and monetary donations worth $6.7 million. This recovery effort is still ongoing. Many of us have had times in our lives where we need assistance. So, let’s show the Air Force community how compassionate and caring the wing is in sharing our good fortune with those who may be experiencing a time of need and support.”
Contributions to the AFAF are tax deductible, but members will need to obtain a form from Waterhouse. .
For information, visit www.afassistancefund.org, or call Waterhouse at 228-377-2695
To watch informational videos about AFAF, visit the AFAF YouTube page.
(Angelina Casarez, Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs, contributed to this article)