WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE -- Master Sgt. Benjamin Seekell is the new first sergeant for the 88th Medical Operations Squadron at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center, and he has seen firsthand the effect the Air Force Assistance Fund has on Airmen.
“I had a tech school graduate who did not have the resources to go home for his grandfather’s funeral,” he said. “I referred him to AFAS and walked him through securing funds to get a plane ticket home so he could support his family.
“Despite his difficulties at the time, this one small act of kindness changed his entire outlook on his service to the United States Air Force,” Seekell said. “For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged somewhere.”
It’s that kind of impact the project installation officers for this year’s AFAF campaign at Wright-Patterson AFB want the base community to understand. With a theme of “Commitment to Caring,” the 46th annual AFAF campaign runs through May 3. The campaign raises funds for AFAF-affiliated charities that assist active-duty, Reserve, Guard and retired Air Force personnel and their families, said Maj. Todd Brackett, installation project officer. This year’s goal for the base is set at $126,903.
Airmen have the option to donate to one or more of the four AFAF charities: Air Force Village Charitable Foundation, the Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Enlisted Village and the Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.
Civilians cannot be solicited for donations but are invited to contribute and should contact their unit project officer.
Donations to the AFAF can be made by cash or check, and active-duty and retired members can utilize the convenience of payroll deduction via completion of a form. Contributions to the AFAF may be tax deductible. More information is available at http://www.afassistancefund.org.
Project installation officer 2nd Lt. Autumn Moreno offered the following tip: “If donors donate online, they have to turn in the AF 2561s forms that generate to their POC or key worker once they hit ‘next’; without those we cannot turn them in to Finance to process. Simply hitting ‘next’ does not generate a payroll deduction, so please turn in the form.”
Contact a unit key worker/project officer or the installation project officers: Maj. Todd Brackett, todd.d.brackett.mil@mail.mil; 2nd Lt. Autumn Moreno, autumn.r.moreno.mil@mail.mil; and Master Sgt. Anna Garrett, anna.j.garrett.mil@mail.mil.