Air Force Assistance Fund to kick off

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Molly A. Matthews
  • 5th Medical Group
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Minot Air Force Base's 38th Annual Air Force Assistance Fund drive kicks off March 28, and is slated to run for six weeks. The AFAF is a unique fundraiser in which 100 percent of the funds donated go directly back to support Air Force Global Strike Command and Team Minot Airmen and their families.

The Air Force is seeking to raise $6.36 million this year, with Team Minot's fundraising goal at $86,491. Last year Minot raised nearly $90,000, exceeding its expected goal by 13 percent. Capt. Todd Brackett, 5th Medical Operations Squadron bioenvironmental engineer, 1st Lt. Molly Matthews, 5th Medical Support Squadron medical logistics flight commander and Master Sgt. Robby Watson, 5th Force Support Squadron first sergeant, are scheduled to be the installation project officers for this year's campaign.

The AFAF is comprised of four Air Force charities which include: The Air Force Village Foundation, The Air Force Aid Society, The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation as well as the Air Force Enlisted Village. These organizations help Airmen who are in need of emergency financial relief, with educational needs or with securing a retirement home for widows or widowers of Airmen with financial stresses.

Each unit has been assigned a key worker who is expected to make contact with all assigned military and civilian personnel. Donations can be made in cash, check, online or through a payroll deduction plan. Each key worker has pre-printed forms available for those who aren't able to donate online. These forms can be accessed online, filled out and given to unit key workers as well. The donation form, AF Forms 2561, is available at http://www.afassistancefund.org.

In their letter to Minot, Col. Doug Cox, 5th Bomb Wing commander and Col. Ferdinand Stoss, 91st Missile Wing commander, summed it up by saying, "Today, as fewer civilian agencies are available to help those in our Air Force family who need it, we need to make sure we are here for our fellow Airmen. So, this year, it's not about Airmen giving more, it's about more Airmen giving."