Finish AFAF strong: One week remains to help care for fellow Airmen

Lt. Col. William Holl, Air Force Assistance Fund installation project officer, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, teleworks on campaign details April 28. (Courtesy photo)

Lt. Col. William Holl, Air Force Assistance Fund installation project officer, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, teleworks on campaign details April 28. (Courtesy photo)

Only a week remains to make a difference in the lives of Airmen through the first active part of the 47th annual Air Force Assistance Fund campaign at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

The annual AFAF campaign, using the theme of “Taking Care of Our Own,” is raising funds until May 8 for AFAF-affiliated charities that assist active-duty, Reserve, Guard and retired Air Force personnel and their families. Contributors, however, will get another chance in July when the campaign undergoes a “lightning round” from July 13-24 and can be conducted in more of a “desk-to-desk/face-to-face” fashion.

The July push is being organized nationally to help the AFAF reach its goal.

This year’s campaign goal at Wright-Patterson AFB is $107,346, and as of April 27, less than 25 percent of the goal had been reached.

The need certainly is there, said Lt. Col. William Holl, AFAF installation project officer, Wright-Patterson AFB.

“The Air Force Aid Society, as well as the other three charities, exist to give a little bit of financial help to Airmen,” he said. “That need is not going to go away. There are people coming out of our current situation that will have a need.”

Last year, the AFAS alone paid out three times more than what was received in contributions from Wright-Patt, Holl said.

“We are in desperate need of contributions before we suspend the first part of the campaign,” he said.

He is reaching out to unit project officers to encourage them to contact their people and also to pledge their time to assist with the July campaign.

“We are pressing forward to keep the campaign alive and make it a success,” Holl said. “I benefited from the AFAF when I was a young Airman and it is a way for us to give back and take care of each other.”

Military, civilians may take part in campaign

Although there is a large civilian population at Wright-Patterson AFB, civilians cannot be solicited for donations but are invited to contribute. Civilians who wish to contribute to AFAF should contact their unit project officer. All who wish to participate need to contact their UPO for a control number.

How to e-give

The AFAF campaign is offering e-giving this year via texting AFAF to 50155 or scanning a QR code from one of the many posters that are being posted on base. Members can opt for payroll deduction or a one-time gift online.

In lieu of e-giving, donations to the AFAF can be made via payroll deduction by completing a pdf form provided by unit project officers that is then printed in triplicate and turned into the unit project officer.

Contributions to the AFAF may be tax deductible.

For more information, first contact a unit project officer. The installation project officers are Lt. Col. William Holl, AFAF installation project officer, 937-257-3424, william.holl@us.af.mil; Senior Master Sgt. Michael Stegen, 937-528-2929, michael.stegen@us.af.mil; and Master Sgt. Ashely Fuquay, 937-255-3491, ashely.fuquay@us.af.mil.

Additional information on AFAF is available online at www.afassistancefund.org.

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