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AFAF 2010 fund drive kicks off

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mike Andriacco
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  The annual Air Force Assistance Fund drive is running from now until May 7.

Last year Andersen received more than $145k in assistance from the fund. Airmen here received more than $72k in loans and grants for emergency assistance, $32k for community enhancement and a further $40k for education grants.

"The AFAF has a long tradition of providing critical assistance to members of our Air Force family," said Bill D'Avanzo, chief of Air Force Fundraising. "Whether they become victims of natural disasters or endure the personal hardships of deployments, accidents, illness, aging or death, these charities are there to provide fast and reliable help."

People can contribute by cash, check or money order, or use payroll deductions for:

-- The Air Force Aid Society, which provides Airmen and their families worldwide with emergency financial assistance, education assistance and an array of base-level community-enhancement programs. More information is available at www.afas.org.

-- The Air Force Enlisted Village, which includes Teresa Village in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. and Bob Hope Village in Shalimar, Fla., near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The fund provides homes and financial assistance to widows and widowers of retired enlisted people 55 and older. Hawthorn House, also in Shalimar, provides assisted living for residents requiring more assistance than others, including 24-hour nursing care. More information is available at www.afenlistedwidows.org.

-- Air Force Village, which includes Air Force Village I and II in San Antonio, a life-care community for retired officers, spouses, widows or widowers and family members. The Air Force Village Web site is www.airforcevillages.com.

-- 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. The LeMay Foundation Web site is www.lemay-foundation.org.

Contributions to the AFAF are tax deductible. For more information about the charitable organizations and AFAF visit www.afassistancefund.org.

(Editor's note: 1st Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen from the Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs office contributed to this article)