42nd annual campaign at Wright-Patt is underway

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter staff
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  With a theme of "Commitment to Caring," the 42nd annual Air Force Assistance Fund campaign at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base hopes to raise $130,000 or more to support fellow Airmen and surviving spouses when they need it most.

The fundraising campaign started March 23 and continues through May 1. It raises money for four charities benefiting active-duty, Reserve, Guard and retired Air Force personnel and their families.

A letter dated Dec. 10 and signed by Deborah Lee James, secretary of the Air Force, Gen. Mark Welsh III, chief of staff, and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody, said the campaign's theme "continues the legacy of Airmen helping Airmen."

The organizations that will benefit from this year's campaign are: the Air Force Aid Society, the official charity of the Air Force; the Air Force Village Fund, which provides widows or widowers of retired career Air Force officers with affordable living options; the Air Force Enlisted Village Fund; and the General and Mrs. Curtis LeMay Foundation, which provides nationwide financial assistance to widows of all retired Air Force personnel.

James, Welsh and Cody announced a goal of $5.88 million for the 2015 campaign. Wright-Patterson AFB's goal this year is $132,180.

"We can easily reach our $574,695 potential if each member of Team Wright-Patt donates," said Senior Master Sgt. Jason Arnold, assisted by Tech. Sgt. Joseph Costa as the installation project officers.

Donations to the AFAF can be made through cash or check, and active-duty and retired members can utilize the convenience of an automatic or payroll deduction. Contributors may designate their contributions to one or more of the four charities. Contributions to the AFAF are tax deductible as an itemized federal deduction.

Civilians are welcome to become involved in the campaign. Civilians cannot be solicited, but they are allowed to donate. They are advised to seek out their key worker. From the numbers seen from previous campaigns, civilians' contributions add up to be a considerable portion of the goal being met.

Unit project officers and key workers will contact each military member of Team Wright-Patt during the next few weeks, but all members can donate and are encouraged to reach out to their key worker to contribute. Look in your building for a poster with contact information for your unit.

For more information, contact your key worker or either of the installation project officers: Arnold, 937-257-9328 or Costa, 937-257-5290. Other AFAF information is available online at www.afassistancefund.org  .