AFAF: The Four Fans of Funds Published March 4, 2009 By Capt. Nicholas Whritenour AFAF Wing Project Officer POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- After a week of being bombarded with Air Force Assistance Fund pop-ups, unit project officer requests for donations and a Popetastic Wing Commander's call, many of you are wondering 'what is this AFAF thing?' The AFAF is an annual effort to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that provide support to the Air Force family (active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and their family members, including surviving spouses) in need. These organizations are the Air Force Enlisted Village Foundation, the Air Force Village Foundation, the Air Force Aid Society, and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation. These organizations provide Air Force people with help in an emergency, with educational needs, or retirement home needs for widows or widowers of Air Force members in need of financial assistance. The Air Force Enlisted Village Fund helps enlisted surviving spouses of the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve who are in dire-need. The Fund also helps active duty. It provides temporary housing and services to spouses and adult dependents of enlisted members who die on active duty. In addition, it provides emergency assistance and temporary housing during natural disasters for active duty or retired Airmen and their families. The Air Force Enlisted Village, located near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and Hurlburt Field, Fla., provides a home at Bob Hope Village, Teresa Village and Hawthorne House for more than 1,625 widows and surviving spouses since 1975. The Air Force Village Fund provides widows of career retired Air Force officers with dignified, appropriate and cost-effective living options. Through a confidential disclosure application, the identities of widows receiving financial assistance are kept in the strictest confidence to preserve their dignity and security. This fund also helps active duty members; it provides a Health Care Center available to military members of all ranks and their dependents. Families of Air Force officers killed on active duty are offered living accommodations at the Villages for up to a year while putting their lives back together following their tragic loss. The Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the Air Force. It is chartered to assist in relieving financial emergencies faced by active duty members and their families. It also assists Reserve and Guard personnel who are on extended active duty or face unique emergencies. On a case-by-case basis, Air Force retirees and widows can also be considered for assistance. Qualifying members are given interest-free loans or grants during personal and family emergencies. Aid can be given for such purposes as food, rent, utilities, essential car repair and certain medical and dental care. Respite care is also available to families in need. The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation has cared for widows of retired Air Force personnel of all ranks who are left to survive with little or no financial resources. The LeMay Foundation provides financial aid to spouses who supported the careers of Air Force officers and enlisted personnel during duty station changes, changing schools midterm, raising the children in the absence of the spouse on temporary assignment and other hardships. Many widows were left nearly destitute because their spouses retired before current Survivor Benefit Plan was started. Others did not know the military member had not elected to participate in the plan. Whatever the reason, General and Mrs. LeMay wanted those who were left behind to be able to live out their years safely and with dignity. Whichever one of these four amazing charities - Air Force Enlisted Village Foundation, the Air Force Village Foundation, the Air Force Aid Society and the General and Mrs Curtis E LeMay Foundation - you chose to donate, you should know that you are being a wingman for all Air Force members. Be a good wingman and take care of our Air Force Family as you would want them to take care of you. The Air Force Assistance Fund has the following fundraisers available in March and April: -43rd Security Forces Squadron hosts a jail and bail March 16. -43rd Operations Group hosts Penny War March 24 to 27. -The Wing staff hosts a bake sale March 27. -43rd Civil Engineer Squadron hosts a chili cook-off March 30. - The Company Grade Officer's Council hosts the Endurance Run April 2 to 3. -The Medical Group hosts a bowling tournament April 10. For more information on these events or the AFAF, call Capt. Nicholas Whritenour at 394-6466.