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Air Force Assistance Fund goal reached

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  With over 550 donors, Tyndall is proud to announce that the goal of raising $63,287 towards the Air Force Assistance Fund was met and exceeded.

With 68 project officers coordinating fundraisers, soliciting donations and many other people helping the cause, the AFAF committee was able to raise more than $67,000 with the help of the Airmen, families and community members, accomplishing a goal that was not met last year.

According to the AFAF website, The Air Force Assistance Fund is an annual effort to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that provide support to our Air Force family in need (active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and our dependents, including surviving spouses).  The charitable affiliate organizations provide support in an emergency, with educational needs, as well as secure retirement homes for widows or widowers of our Air Force members in need of financial assistance.

"The AFAF is the one fundraising campaign the Air Force does that supports the Airman and their families," said 1st Lt. Paul Mayers, 325th Fighter Wing AFAF installation project officer.  "With all of the money going out to those Airmen in need of help, this campaign is a way of taking care of our own and helping each other out."

From the beginning of the fundraising campaign there was no doubt that Tyndall would get the mission done.

"I had all the confidence in the world that we were going to meet this year's goal," said Mayers. "From the start, everyone who assisted with the campaign was excited and determined to meet the goal and we were going to do everything possible to accomplish that mission."

Units helped in getting that mission done, and some units made a big difference by 'destroying' their goals, said Mayers.

The 337th Air Control Squadron set a goal of $3,500 and was able to surpass that by raising approximately $10,000. The 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron was another unit that raised a large amount of money with more than $5,000.

"Last year we were unable to meet our goal in fundraising, but this was a new year and we were able to not only meet, but exceed our goal," said Mayers. "As of right now we are leading all Air Combat Command bases in percentage of our set goal and we hope to keep it that way."

Some fundraising events included a pie-in-the-face auction, bowling tournament, barbecues and a leadership dance-off competition.

"This was a team effort and the AFAF committee couldn't have done it without the help of everyone that was involved in donating and fundraising," Mayers said.

The AFAF is a way to show Air Force families in need that they can find support within the Air Force community.

"Taking care of our Airmen is important, and when there is an opportunity like this, it is outstanding to see everyone come together to achieve the goal at hand," said Col. Derek C. France, 325th FW Commander. "Thank you to all who contributed and volunteered in support of this campaign."