KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 2025 Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign is underway until June.
The campaign, which kicks off at Keesler Air Force Base March 17, supports Total Force Airmen and their families by providing emergency assistance, educational support and community programs.
The annual effort to raise funds for charities provides support for Air Force families in need. The charities are the Air Force Village Charitable Foundation, Aid Society, The Air Force Enlisted Village, and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. Lemay Foundation.
“This campaign is more than a fundraiser; it’s a way for us to take care of our own; it’s for Airmen, by Airmen,” said Master Sgt. Jared Bryant, 403rd Wing Resiliency Integrator and First Sergeant. “The charities receive 100 percent of the designated contributions and benefit active-duty, Reserve, Guard, retired servicemembers, and surviving spouses and families.”
Air Force Aid Society provides 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 in Shalimar, Florida, near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
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 to live a dignified lifestyle and stay in their homes longer. The LeMay Foundation helps with recurring grants 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 in San Antonio, near Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
“I have witnessed times of financial hardship, the Air Force Aid Society has been a lifeline for many of our Airmen, providing crucial support for them to navigate through these tough moments,” said Bryant. “Donating to this incredible organization ensures that the legacy of support continues, paving the way for the next generation of Airmen to receive the assistance they need when they need it most. Supporting charities like the Air Force Aid Society through the Air Force Assistance Fund is not just an act of kindness; it's a commitment and a promise to our Airmen that we will always have their back.
Contributions to the campaign are tax deductible and can be made online or through payroll deduction. The IRS requires donors to obtain a receipt for any single contribution of $250 or more, according to the AFAF website.
For more information or to donate online, visit https://www.afassistancefund.org/index.php/donate/
For Keesler Air Force Base donations, visit: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/afaf/classification/288997/