Air Force Assistance Fund campaign kicks off at Vance Published March 28, 2012 VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Vance Air Force Base 2012 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign kicked off Monday, March 26, with a breakfast for senior leaders at the Community Chapel Activity Center. This year's AFAF campaign will run through May 4. The campaign's primary objective is 100 percent contact with eligible contributors on base. In 2011, Team Vance contributed more than $29,000 to the Air Force Aid Society, one of the four charities that make up the AFAF. In return, more than $56,000 in assistance from the Aid Society was spent on the needs of Vance Airmen. This year, campaign organizers at Vance hope to raise more money than last year in support of the AFAF goal of, "Taking care of our own." The annual AFAF campaign raises funds for four charities: the Air Force Enlisted Village, the Air Force Village, the LeMay Foundation and the Air Force Aid Society. All four focus on taking care of the Air Force family. For the past 70 years, the Air Force Aid Society has provided world-wide emergency assistance to Airmen and their families. Money raised for Aid Society is used to provide Airmen and their families emergency assistance loans, education grants and sponsors educational and proactive community programs. The Air Force Enlisted Village's mission is to provide a home to surviving spouses of retired enlisted Air Force members. The Village has been home to more than 1,500 surviving spouses since 1975 and currently provides safe and comfortable housing for 450. Temporary housing is also available to spouses of enlisted members who die or are killed on active duty. The Air Force Village is a retirement community dedicated to the care of retired Air Force officer widows who require financial assistance. The Air Force Village provides a safe, secure and comfortable living environment where widows are surrounded by friends made during military service. Since 1970 the Air Force Village has contributed more than $12 million in confidential support to indigent widows, providing for their dignity, peace of mind, an honorable lifestyle and long-term health care. The LeMay Foundation was formed by Gen. and Mrs. Curtis LeMay. The foundation helps widows of all Air Force retirees, both officer and enlisted, through financial grants. Assistance is provided as long as the need exists or for specific one-time needs with single disbursements. The AFAF is an effective way for Airmen to directly help other Airmen. Those who have been helped by the AFAF are the best source of good reasons to support the 2012 AFAF campaign and continue to take care of the Air Force family. For more information on the 2012 AFAF campaign, contact any of the key workers listed below. Vance Air Force Assistance Fund key workers Vance AFAF project officers Capt. Matt Zenishek -- 213-6756 2nd Lt. Jess Bates -- 213-7145 71st Operations Group Capt. Bill Lohan Senior Airman Jamal Perry 5th Flying Training Squadron Maj. Ty Smith 8th Flying Training Squadron Capt. Dave Foland 1st Lt. David Hidalgo 25th Flying Training Squadron 1st Lt. Matt Ghigna 32nd Flying Training Squadron Capt. Chris Huckins Capt. Rachel Stone 33rd Flying Training Squadron 1st Lt. Timm Ross 71st Operations Support Squadron Senior Airman Ashley McGill 71st Student Squadron Capt. Lisa McCranie 71st Mission Support Group Master Sgt. Richard Dodson Tech. Sgt. Eugene Ford 71st Communications Squadron Airman 1st Class Rafeal Beckwith 71st Force Support Squadron Senior Airman Rosa Garrette 71st Logistics Readiness Squadron Master Sgt. David Lenamond 71st Security Forces Squadron Senior Airman Tynisia Hains 71st Medical Group Capt. Mark Hassett Capt. Tyson Allard 71st Medical Support Squadron Capt. Mark Hassett 71st Medical Operations Squadron Capt. Tyson Allard Wing Staff Agencies Staff Sgt. Jonathan Carpenter 71st Comptroller Squadron Airman 1st Class Jordon Yates