AFAF: Airmen helping Airmen Published March 5, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Cortney Paxton 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- It's not completely unknown to Airmen across the Air Force that there are programs put in place for their sole benefit and successful progression of their careers. But it may not be as commonly known that Airmen can give back to a specific few of these beneficial programs. The Air Force Assistance Fund is a campaign put in place to give Air Force members the opportunity to give back to fellow Airmen. This year's campaign will start March 5 and continue through April 16. "The AFAF is basically four charities that came together," said Capt. Stacey Price, 341st Medical Group resource management officer and AFAF wing POC. "All funds go directly back to Air Force people - back to our Airmen." The four charities are the Air Force Aid Society, the Lemay Foundation, the Air Force Enlisted Village and the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation. Airmen planning to donate are encouraged to research the charities if planning to donate to one specifically. Air Force Aid Society The Air Force Aid Society is one of the most common assistance programs, touching an average of 30,000 Airmen each year. It provides $10 million in emergency assistance to eligible Airmen and their families, along with $6 million in need-based education grants for eligible spouses and dependant children. It also provides various proactive community programs to help improve quality of life. More information can be found online at www.afas.org. Lemay Foundation The Lemay Foundation awards grants to enlisted and officer retiree's spouses, primarily stalwart windows who supported their families and active-duty spouses. Grants have been given away through the Lemay Foundation to widows with monthly incomes that fall below the poverty line as well as one-time grants given for necessities such as wheelchairs and prosthetics. For more information, visit www.lemay-foundation.org. Air Force Enlisted Village The Air Force Enlisted Village provides the entire Air Force Family, with a primary focus on spouses, with the gift of a home. It offers a community home to mothers of active-duty and retired military members. It also provides temporary housing for surviving spouses of enlisted members who die while on active duty or to the active-duty members if a tragedy strikes. More information can be found at www.afev.us. Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation The Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation provides retired Air Force officer's widows needing financial assistance with a retirement community home. Since 1970 the charity has provided $13 million in confidential support to approximately 500 widowed spouses. For more information, visit www.airforcevillages.com. Last year the AFAF campaign raised $50,713 and the bar has been raised this year. "Our goal is $52, 916," Price said. "However, the AFAF takes your rank and gives you a suggested donation; if everybody gave their suggested donation we'd be able to bring in $105,000, just at Malmstrom." All of the funds raised through the AFAF go back into the Air Force to help members in need. The same money Airmen donate could be used to help them through a tough situation in the future. "The organizations have personal touches to them so you might have a family member that is a retiree's dependant that is struggling right now that could benefit from one of these," Price said. "You might find yourself in a time where you have a financial hardship and might benefit from the Air Force Aid Society. It happens every day - you just never know what you're going to come in to."