AFAF campaign kicks off for 53d Wing, Eglin Published March 18, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Samuel King Jr. 53d Wing Public Affairs EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 2008 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign officially kicked off March 17, and runs through April 27. The goal for the 53d Wing is $8,940. "The AFAF is all about taking care of our own people," said Master Sgt. Serena Rice, 53d Wing representative. "These charities benefit Air Force individuals - retirees, veterans, spouses or an Airman needing a break. Some of them gave all they had for their country - this is our chance to give a little back." This fundraising campaign is different from the Combined Federal Campaign which occurs annually in the fall. All funds raised for AFAF directly aid our military family. The Air Force Assistance Fund consists of four different charities: Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Enlisted Village, Air Force Village Foundation, and the Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation. AFAS This group offers grants and interest-free loans to individuals who cannot otherwise pay for specific basic needs essential to continued personal effectiveness as an Air force member. They also administer family support programs that provide phone cards for deployed members, tuition assistance, illness or funeral expense support, child care for families that recently PCSed or are suffering from a hardship, and more. Enlisted Village The Air Force Enlisted Village's primary goal and focus is to provide a home, and financial assistance to indigent widows of retired Air Force personnel. Low pay and frequent military moves leave some spouses without careers, home equities, retirement plans or any significant assets. The community surrounding Eglin hosts the only two enlisted AF military retirement communities in the Air Force. Bob Hope Village in Shalimar and Theresa Village in Fort Walton Beach provide surviving spouses requiring financial assistance a home among their peers - sharing memories of Air Force life without the stigma normally associated with subsidized housing facilities. Village Foundation The Air Force Village Foundation is very much like the Bob Hope Village, but is located in San Antonio, Texas. Air Force Village I and II are dedicated to retirement living with access to continuing health care for military officers who served honorably and their spouses - with priority to retired Air Force officer widows and widowers in need of financial assistance. AFV also operates Freedom House; a specially designed facility dedicated to research and caring for persons with Alzheimer's Disease and related illnesses. General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation The last of the AFAF charities is the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation. The LeMay Foundation helps widows of all Air Force retirees, through financial grants of assistance. These widows spent much of their lives coping with the difficulties of military life, and supporting their spouses through years of active duty. Assistance may be in the form of a one-time specific need or a monthly check to subsidize a tight, fixed income. The Air Force's goal is to raise $5.7 million in this year's campaign to ensure that our AFAF charities are financially strong and ready to assist when needed. For more information on the four AFAF charities, log onto http://afassistance fund.org, or contact your unit AFAF representative. The 53d Wing AFAF squadron representatives are: 53d Wing: Master Sgt. Serena Rice 53d WG staff: Master Sgt. Lisa Casteel 68th EWS: Staff Sgt. Casey Cota 16th EWS: Tech. Sgt. Brian Francis 36th EWS: Staff Sgt. Jesse Marshall 53d TMG staff: Master Sgt. Charles Simpson 28th TES: 1st Lt. Brandon Bernardoni 29th TSS: Master Sgt. Michael Woissol 53 CSS: Staff Sgt. Brandon Whisner 85 TES: Master Sgt. Joseph Witucki 86 FWS: 2nd Lt. Audrey Stock