AFAF launches March 5

  • Published
  • By John Cochran
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  Capt. Nicholas Weightman, 377th Medical Support Squadron, is the Kirtland Air Force Base installation project officer for the 2012 Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign.

The drive seeks donations for the four charitable affiliates that directly benefit the extended Air Force family. He said the local campaign will begin March 5 and run through April 13, seeking to raise $72,309.

"Donors make a direct, positive effect on the lives of current Airmen, retirees, veterans and family members. Our goal has been set at 50 percent of $144,617. That's our 'potential' total donation if each assigned military member gives the suggested amount. If we can meet or exceed that amount, we'll do a lot of good," he said.

The Air Force Fundraising Chief explained the formula the Air Force uses to calculate each base's AFAF donation target.

"The Air Force set a goal to raise $6.41 million service-wide. The assigned number of military people in each pay grade, multiplied by the suggested giving amount, equals the '100 percent potential' amount, if all of them give the suggested donation. The suggested giving guide is based on 0.1 percent of annual base pay. We take the average years of service in each grade to use as the multiplier," said William A. D'Avanzo.

"Something that may be surprising is that historically, only 23 to 30 percent of active-duty Airmen donate to AFAF. I served more than 24 years on active duty, thinking that nearly everybody gave to the charities that 'take care of our own,' but I was wrong," he said. "As the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Norton Schwartz, said in a note to retirees, 'It's not about Airmen giving more -- it's about more Airmen giving.' If more Airmen would give, that would make a huge difference," D'Avanzo said.

AFAF was established to provide for an annual effort to raise money for the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation, Inc., the Air Force Aid Society, Inc., the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, and the Air Force Enlisted Village, Inc. Those organizations support the Air Force family (active-duty, retirees, Reservists, guardsmen and their dependents, including surviving spouses) in need. They help Air Force people with emergency aid, with educational needs, or to have a secure retirement home for widows or widowers of Airmen who need financial assistance.

For more information about AFAF overall, visit http://www.afassistancefund.org/.