The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center recently raised more than 530 percent of its goal for the Air Force Assistance Fund at its headquarters location here, garnering the base’s top contributor spot again for the second year.
At Kirtland AFB, the center raised over $11,000 for the local Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, besting its unit goal by more than $8,500. With less than 6 percent of the base’s active-duty population, the center contributed over 29 percent of the base’s total donations.
In its 45th year, the annual AFAF campaign raises funds for affiliated charities, the Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation, the Air Force Enlisted Village, and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation. These organizations provide various forms of support for Air Force active-duty members, Guardsmen and Reservists, as well as family members, retirees and veterans.
“The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center lived up to its reputation once again as being one of the most generous organizations on Kirtland AFB,” said Maj. Gen. Shaun Morris, AFNWC commander and Air Force program executive officer for strategic systems. “I am inspired by the dedication of the center’s members to helping their fellow Airman and incredibly proud of our AFAF campaign leaders this year.”
The center’s AFAF team leaders, Mark Berge, 1st Lt. Ryan Finley, 2nd Lt. Andrew Miller, 1st Lt. Elliot Myers, 1st Lt. Chris O’Daniel, Sergio Sanchez, and 2nd Lt. Sean Willet, reached the over-the-top milestone by coordinating nine fundraisers and soliciting donations from the center’s military and civilian members.
“This campaign is exceptionally important to the Air Force, with the proceeds going right back to helping our members and their families,” Finley said. “The center’s members understood the importance of this campaign and we were humbled by the amount of support. It was no surprise for us to learn that we raised more than three times the amount of the next closest organization here at Kirtland.”
“It was very important to me to be a part of the center’s AFAF team,” Sanchez said. “This campaign was another opportunity for me to lend a helping hand to our local Airmen and their families.”
For more information on AFAF, visit www.afassistancefund.org.