AFAF Charity spotlight: Air Force Villages

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Air Force Enlisted Village: The Air Force Enlisted Village, an organization that provides financial assistance and housing to surviving spouses of Air Force enlisted members, was founded in 1967 by a group of active-duty and retired Air Force noncommissioned officers, who were assisted by former Air Force Chief of Staff General and Mrs. John D. Ryan.

Due to low pay and frequent military moves, some spouses are left without the opportunity for careers, home equities, retirement plans or any significant assets, states the foundation's Web site, www.afenlistedwidows.org.

The organization's top priority is providing permanent housing and financial assistance, but temporary housing is also available to spouses of enlisted members who die or who are killed on active duty. Adult dependents -- typically parents of active-duty members or their spouses -- are also eligible for permanent housing on a space-available basis, the Web site states.

The Air Force Enlisted Village consists of two separate living facilities, Theresa Village and Bob Hope Village, located in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Shalimar, Fla., respectively.

The Theresa Village, founded in 1975, houses 101 two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom apartments, along with seven three-bedroom houses. The community center houses a dining room, kitchen, small chapel, library, gift shop, arts and crafts room and a game room. An outdoor swimming pool, picnic area and garden plots are also located at the facility, the Web site states.

The Hawthorn House, located in Shalimar, Fla. on the Bob Hope Village campus, is a brand new complex which offers a 64-apartment assisted living facility.

The Bob Hope village offers 224 one-bedroom apartments and 32 two-bedroom apartments. A few of the other highlights of the village include a chapel, community center, a welcome center and an outdoor garden and nature trail.

For more information, contact the Air Force Enlisted Village through their Web site, e-mail afef@afev.us or call (800) 258-1413. Donations can be made either through Hanscom's Air Force Assistance Fund campaign or by contacting the organization directly.

Air Force Village Foundation: Through the vision of the Air Force Officers' Wives' Club and numerous Air Force leaders, a foundation took form in 1964 that allowed for the housing and financial assistance of retired Air Force officers' widows who were in need.

Today, the Air Force Village Foundation has become the helping hand to many widows who are left without any means of financial support or stability.

"At that time, many widows were left without social security and their survivor's benefits were minimal, if not non-existent," states the organization's Web site, www.airforcevillages.com.  

The village, which opened in 1970 in San Antonio, was built on 15 acres that was donated by prominent homebuilder Ray Ellison. "Since then," the site states, "two established retirement communities have evolved which continue their original charitable mission, but additionally, they serve so many others."

Air Force Village I was not only the first retirement community in the nation that offered care and services for retired military officers and their dependents, it was also the first military-related retirement community to be accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.

The Air Force Village I, located on 30 acres, has 366 independent living apartments, a wellness clinic, home healthcare services, an assisted living facility and a healthcare center.

The second location, Air Force Village II, located on 660 acres, has 403 independent living apartments, a wellness clinic, home healthcare services, a 34-bed assisted living facility, and a 68-bed healthcare center, which is a skilled nursing facility.

Another facility offered is the Freedom House. This facility is specifically designed to care for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.

Hanscom AFAF Update: The AFAF also benefits the Air Force Aid Society and the General and Mrs. Curtis Lemay Foundation charities.

Hanscom's monetary goal for this year's campaign is $38,999. We have collected $31,403 so far - 80.5 percent of the monetary goal. Those who wish to contribute can do so online by visiting the AFAF Web site, www.afassistancefund.org, and completing the form. Once completed, forms should be turned into the individual's group or squadron key worker.