AFAF charity spotlight: AFVF offers officers' widows housing, financial assistance Published March 17, 2009 By Meredith March HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Air Force Village Foundation was established in 1964 by members of the Air Force Officers' Wives' Club and Air Force leaders who wanted to offer housing and financial assistance to retired Air Force officers' widows in need. The Air Force Village Foundation continues to offer assistance to widows without adequate financial support or stability. The first Air Force Village opened in 1970 in San Antonio and was originally built on 15 acres of land donated by Ray Ellison, a prominent homebuilder, states the organization's Web site, www.airforcevillages.com. 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, now located on 30 acres, has 366 independent living apartments, a fitness center, a wellness clinic, home health care services, an assisted living facility and a health care center. The second AFVF location, Air Force Village II, is located on 660 acres, has 403 independent living apartments, a wellness clinic, home health care services, a 34-bed assisted living facility, and a 68-bed health care center, which is a skilled nursing facility. Another facility is the Freedom House, a facility specifically designed to care for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. The Air Force Village Foundation prides itself in never turning away a qualified widow because she is unable to pay, according to the Web site. This standard is made possible through the support of the Air Force spouses' organizations, the Air Force Assistance Fund and other foundations and corporations. For more information visit the AFVF Web site, e-mail info@airforcevillages.com or call (800) 984-4081. The AFAF also benefits the Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Enlisted Village and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation charities. Those who wish to contribute to the AFAF should contact their unit POC or visit the AFAF Web site, www.afassistancefund.org, and complete the contribution form. For more information call Capt. Patrick Graham at (781) 377-7731 or e-mail Patrick.Graham@hanscom.af.mil.