Team Kadena exceeds 2010 AFAF goal; one week left in campaign

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  For several weeks, Team Kadena members have been digging deep into their pockets and purses and donating money to the Air Force Assistance Fund. So far, servicemembers and civilians raised more than $156,000 for the charity, already exceeding this year's goal.

"Last year's AFAF campaign was a record-setting year where the wing contributed nearly $191,000 in a short amount of time," said Senior Master Sgt. Terry Pritchert, Team Kadena Air Force Assistance Fund project officer. "This year, we came really close to meeting last year's goal but situations like a fragile economy and having fewer personnel assigned to Kadena caused us to fall short. Regardless of how much each person is able to donate it tells me that Team Kadena members are willing to take care of their own."

The Air Force Assistance Fund is the official charity of the Air Force intended to help Air Force members and their families in need. Contributions from this charity assist foundations and funds such as the Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay foundation which cares for widowed spouses of active duty and retired Air Force members with financial grants; and the Air Force Village Indigent Widows Fund which provides financial assistance to widows and widowers of Air Force active duty and retired officers in addition to supporting the Wilford Hall Medical Center bone marrow transplant program. The base program Airmen and their families may be more familiar with is the Air Force Aid Society which offers grants and short-notice financial aid to those in need as well as supporting base programs such as "Give Parents a Break."

"Because this money is put back into the Air Force for its members and their dependents, foundations like the Air Force Aid Society are always there to help members in a pinch or when they have to go on emergency leave when a family member dies," Sergeant Pritchert said. "The society is there to take care of the little things that a member isn't quite focused on because they're grieving. You don't have to worry about coming up with the money for a $1,300 ticket back to the states. The Air Force Aid Society is there to help with that."

No matter the amount of money each person elects to contribute to the charity, every dollar helps. According to Sergeant Pritchert, an Airman who contributes $20 a year over their 20-year career donates a total of $400. It's a small amount of money in the grand scheme of things but that same $400 is helping a young family in need right now.
"Odds are you'll need the help of the Air Force Aid Society at least once in your career and you'll benefit a lot more than what you've contributed over time," Sergeant Pritchert said.

"This is the one donation you can make that you can actually see where your dollars go and know for certain that, not only are you helping your fellow Airmen and their families in times of need, but you are also directly benefitting yourself and your family as well," added Tech. Sgt. Angelique Perez, AFAF representative for Wing Staff Agencies. "You never know when you're going to need a helping hand; if you stop giving then AFAF might not be around when you need it."

Editor's Note:
The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign runs through May 7. For more information about the AFAF, the charities it supports, or to make a donation, speak with your unit representative or visit http://www.afassistancefund.org.