Donating to AFAS helps fellow Airmen Published March 1, 2007 POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- One of the organizations servicemembers can donate to during the Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, running March 1 through April 11, is the Air Force Aid Society. According to Dawn Doan, AFAS officer, in 2006, 162 loans and grants were provided to members of Team Pope, totaling $112,820 for emergency assistance; 21 scholarships granted, for a total of $42,000; and $32,389 was provided through the community enhancement programs, such as Car Care Because We Care. In all, $187,209 was provided to members of Team Pope through the Air Force Aid Society. AFAS is the official charity of the U.S. Air Force, promoting the Air Force mission by helping "to relieve distress of Air Force members and their families and assisting them to finance their education." It is rooted in the original Army Air Corps and the World War II Army Air Forces, whose members wanted to "take care of their own." Through the years, AFAS has become increasingly effective in helping Airmen and their families with personal emergencies. Since its creation in 1942 as a non-profit organization, the AFAS has helped countless members of the Air Force community. Strong support for AFAS programs and objectives is reinforced each year by the substantial personal contributions made by the active force, all of which are used solely for Emergency Assistance. Although AFAS receives no appropriated or non-appropriated funds, close ties are maintained between the society and Air Force officials. Below are answers to common questions about the Air Force Aid Society. Q: Do donations cover all AFAS assistance disbursements each year? A: No, only about 25 percent of emergency assistance needs are funded by donations. The rest of the money comes from investment fund income and paybacks on existing loans. Q: How much of donated dollars goes toward overhead and administrative costs? A: It is a matter of policy that EVERY DOLLAR DONATED to the AFAS goes directly to our emergency assistance programs. Q: How many Air Force people did the Society help in 2006? A: More than 33,000 Air Force members and their families were helped with more than $19.6 million in assistance last year. Q: Who is eligible for AFAS assistance? A: Active duty and retired Air Force members and their dependents are eligible for AFAS assistance, as are the dependents of deceased Air Force personnel who died on active duty or in retired status. Q: What if an Air Force member needs help but isn't near an air force base? A: AFAS maintains a cross-servicing agreement with emergency relief organizations of the Army and Navy, so Air Force people can request help through those offices when no AF facility is relatively close to the member/family. Local Red Cross offices will also provide assistance when there is no military base or post nearby and then will be reimbursed by Headquarters AFAS. Programs included in the Air Force Aid Society community enhancements are Give Parents a Break, Bundles for Babies, Car Care Because We Care, Zimmy's Guide to All Kids Need, Child Care for PCS, Phone Home, Respite Care, Spouse Orientation Program, Spouse Employment Program, Child Care for Volunteers, Youth Employment Skills, Emergency Assistance, Spouse Tuition Assistance and Arnold Education Grants. Pope's action officer for the AFAF campaign is Capt. Maryanna Wienbroeer. For more information on local procedures and policies, call her at 394-6977. For additional information about Air Force Aid Society, visit the Web site at http://www.afas.org/index.cfm. (Information in this article was compiled from the AFAS Web site)