'Commitment to Caring' encourages donations

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  With only days remaining in this year's Hanscom Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign, organizers ask those who have not yet contributed to consider making a monetary donation before May 1.

The theme for this year's campaign is "Commitment to Caring" and the base's monetary goal is $33,127. Base personnel have donated $23,666 so far, with one week still remaining.

"Hanscom personnel still have time to make a contribution online to one or more of the charities by visiting the AFAF website, at www.afassistancefund.org, and completing the Form 2561," said Capt. Mandy Bradesca, Hanscom AFAF installation project officer. "Once completed, the form can be printed and turned in to your group or squadron point of contact."

Air Force personnel can only seek on-the-job donations from active duty members and military retirees. However, contributions from civilians, local charities and contractors are welcomed.

The AFAF is an annual fundraising campaign to assist past and present Airmen and their families through unexpected challenges and financial hardships through four charities: the Air Force Aid Society, the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation and the Air Force Enlisted Village.

"The four charities assist active duty Airmen, retirees, as well as Reserve and Air National Guard Airmen in a variety of ways," said Bradesca. "This includes helping during emergencies, providing for educational needs and helping secure a retirement home for Air Force widows or widowers in need of financial assistance."

One example of that is through the Air Force Aid Society.

"I made a pledge back when I was a young airman that as long as I was affiliated with the Air Force, I would donate to the Air Force Assistance Fund and the Air Force Aid Society," said Steve Tupeck, 66th Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Section chief, who took advantage of the AFAS grant program after being notified early in his Air Force career that a family member had passed away.

In addition to the AFAS, the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation and the Air Force Enlisted Village charities receive much of their support.

The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, established by the general and his wife, Helen, in 1987, provides for the needs of all Air Force retirees' widows, both officers and enlisted.

The Air Force Enlisted Village, formerly called the Air Force Enlisted Widows Home Foundation, was founded in 1967 after the Air Force Sergeant's Association conducted a survey and found that more than 50,000 widows of enlisted men were living in poverty.

As a result, a group of active duty and retired Air Force noncommissioned officers, assisted by former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. and Mrs. John D. Ryan, founded an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance and housing to surviving spouses of retired Air Force enlisted members.

Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation was established 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. Today, with a new name, Blue Skies of Texas honors these spouses with the same tradition of Air Force Village.

For further information or help in making a donation, contact Bradesca at 781-225-6225 or Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Marley at 781-225-6559.