News United States Air Force
 Air Force Assistance Fund begins 45th year of helping Airmen, familiesPublished March 29, 2018
                        
                        By Richard Salomon
                        
                        
                        Air Force’s Personnel Center Public Affairs
                **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --**
                The 2018 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign runs from March 26th through May 4. 
Air Force bases worldwide participate in the AFAF campaign, which raises money for charities that support Air Force active-duty members, Guardsmen and Reservists as well as spouses, immediate family members and veterans. The charities are: the Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Enlisted Village, Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.
“The four affiliate charities of the AFAF campaign exist for the sole purpose of taking care of Airmen and their families from induction into the Air Force through retirement,” said Bill D’Avanzo, Air Force fundraising chief at the Air Force Personnel Center. “These funds provide emergency financial relief, educational assistance and family support, and have a direct impact on the lives of Airmen and families.”
The Air Force Enlisted Village supports the Bob Hope Village in Shalimar, Florida, near Eglin Air Force Base. The fund provides homes and financial assistance to retired enlisted members' surviving spouses who are 55 and older. It also supports Hawthorn House (also in Shalimar) which provides assisted living and memory care for residents, including  limited nursing services when needed.
The Air Force Aid Society provides Total Force Airmen and their families worldwide with emergency financial assistance, educational support and various base-level community enhancement programs.
The Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation supports independent assisted living and memory and nursing care for retired officers and their spouses, surviving spouses and family members. Communities are located in San Antonio, close to Lackland Air Force Base and the San Antonio Military Medical Center.
The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation provides monetary grants for rent and other purposes to surviving spouses of officer and enlisted retirees. Grants include one-time payments to help with unexpected expenses and monthly assistance to help surviving spouses remain in their homes and live with dignity.
One-time donations are accepted by cash or check to one or more of these AFAF funds. Active-duty members and retirees can donate monthly from their military pay accounts to one or more of the funds. Active-duty members can choose to have payroll deductions for three to 12 months, while retirees can do so for 12 months. Under certain conditions, Guard and Reserve members can sign up for payroll deductions for three to 12 months beginning in June. 
“The AFAF continues to be a major factor in our resiliency and readiness, even after 45 years of the campaign,” D’Avanzo said. “This year also marks 76 years of the Air Force Aid Society helping Airmen and 50 years of the Air Force Enlisted Village providing homes to surviving spouses.”
For more AFAF information, visit **www.afassistancefund.org**. Visit **AFPC’s public website** for more information about personnel programs.Air Force 



resiliency 



Reserve 



Air Force Aid Society 



readiness 



guard 



active duty 



Air Force Enlisted Village 



AFAF 



Air Force Assistance Fund