Altus AFB to kick off 2008 AFAF campaign Published March 19, 2008 By Master Sgt. Michael Schell 97th Civil Engineering Squadron ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Altus 2008 AFAF campaign will be conducted at between March 21 and May 2. The "Kick-Off" burger burn will be held on the March 24 at noon at the Freedom Community Center. Guest speakers will be 97th Air Mobility Wing Vice Commander Col. Michael Mendonca and representatives from the Altus Air Force Aid Society. There will also be a Wing Wide Fundraiser, the "Pie in the Face" competition. Contact your Group or Squadron POC's for any further information on volunteering, donations and voting for your "Pie in the Face" candidates. The Air Force Assistance Fund was established to provide for an annual effort to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that provide support to the Air Force family (active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and their dependents, including surviving spouses) in need. These organizations are the Air Force Village Foundation, Inc., the Air Force Aid Society, Inc., the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, and the Air Force Enlisted Village, Inc. These organizations help Air Force people with aid in an emergency, with educational needs, or to have a secure retirement home for widows or widowers of Air Force members in need of financial assistance. One of the main goals this year is to educate individuals on the programs benefited by the AFAF. The Air Force Village offers premier living communities for retired and honorably separated officers of all uniformed services and their spouses, widow(er)s and elderly dependents age 62 and older. The Air Force Enlisted Village was founded to provide a safe, secure and dignified place for indigent surviving spouses of retired Air Force personnel. The Village's primary goal and focus is to "Provide a Home" and financial assistance to these women. Surviving spouses live among their peers sharing memories of the Air Force life without the stigma normally associated with subsidized housing. The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation is a national organization located on the premises of the Air Force Village West. This organization offers financial assistance to widows of all retired Air Force personnel, regardless of their living location for as long a period as necessary, even for a lifetime. Funds are provided gratis with no strings attached on the premise that these women served with their husbands in the Air Force, all the way through to retirement, and deserve to live their lives in comfort and dignity. Finally, the Air Force Aid Society, this is perhaps the most widely know and beneficial to active-duty individuals. The Air Force Aid Society if the official charity of the United States Air Force and is a private non-profit organization. The Society promotes the Air Force mission by providing Air Force personnel with worldwide emergency assistance, sponsoring education assistance programs and offering a variety of base community enhancement programs that improve the quality of life for Airmen and their families. The Airman & Family Readiness Flight located in Building 52 is the point of contact for Altus AFB's Air Force Aid Society. For information on the available programs, call 481-6761.