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Air Force Assistance Fund campaign begins Monday

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Kadena Air Base residents have until April 27 to help raise more than $100,000 in contributions to a fund designed to assist Airmen in need. 

The 2008 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign begins Monday and organizers said the local goal for this year's campaign is $106,170. 

The annual campaign supports four Air Force-specific charities: The Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Village Indigent Widows Fund, the Air Force Enlisted Foundation, Inc. and the Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation Indigent Widows Fund. 

Unlike the Combined Federal Campaign, the Air Force Assistance Fund campaign is designed specifically to help Air Force members and their families, said Capt. Jeff Schrum, installation project officer for this year's local campaign. 

"It's a great feeling to know your contribution can have a definite impact in helping a fellow Airman," he said. "To me, this is all about being a good wingman." 

Last year 28 percent of the active duty population at Kadena contributed, said Captain Schrum. 

"Getting people to contribute is the more difficult aspect of the project," he said. The goal at Kadena this year is to have 100 percent face-to-face contact with all active-duty members to ensure everyone has a chance to make a contribution. 

Master Sgt. Greg Stowe, assistant Air Force Assistance Fund installation project officer assigned to the 18th Component Maintenance Squadron, said contributions are tax deductible and all the money raised by Air Force members helps other Airmen.
"There will be plenty of opportunity for all Airmen to contribute," he said. 

For those who want to contribute, Captain Schrum said unit representatives plan on making 100 percent contact with all eligible donators by the end of this month. 

"Due to deployments and other TDYs, it may take a little longer to contact everyone," he said. 

The Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the Air Force. It is chartered to assist active-duty members and their families during emergencies. The society helped more than 35,000 people with $19.1 million worth of assistance in various forms last year. 

The Air Force Village Indigent Widows Fund provides financial assistance to widows and widowers of Air Force active-duty and retired officers and also supports the Wilford Hall Medical Center bone marrow transplant program. 

The Air Force Enlisted Foundation also helps the widows of enlisted Airmen who find themselves living in poverty after the death of their spouse. Some of the assistance provided includes rent subsidies and free transportation to hospitals. 

The Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay foundation cares for widowed spouses of active duty or retired Air Force members of all ranks by offering financial grants. 

In 2006, Kadena received nearly $266,526 for emergency relief funds, educational grants, and community enhancement programs through the Air Force Aid Society. 

For more information about the Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, contact your unit project officer or group representative.

18th Civil Engineer Group
· Master Sgt. Oscar Cabatic 

18th Mission Support Group
· Master Sgt. Trevor Kearns 

18th Medical Group
· Master Sgt. Erick Mierisch 

18th Operations Group
· Capt. Leslie Hall 

18th Maintenance Group
· Senior Master Sgt. Clark Sato 

18th Wing Staff Agencies
· Capt. Jeff Watts 

353rd Special Operations Group
· Capt. Dennis Borrman 

Kadena Group 7
· Tech. Sgt. Jonathon Gallagher