AFAF finishes big at Incirlik Published May 25, 2011 By Tech. Sgt. Valda Wilson 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Incirlik Airmen exceeded both the Air Force and the 39th air Base Wing goals for the wing's contributions to the 2011 Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign. "For the entire campaign, our Air Force assigned fair share goal was $26,870 and our wing goal was $39,000 and we smashed all records this year," said Capt. Mark Olson, the AFAF installation-project officer. The Incirlik community raised $61,561. The campaign, themed "Commitment to Caring", ran from March 29 through May 6. The AFAF committee also partnered with American Forces Network-Incirlik and hosted a telethon fundraiser, which raised $7,900 in one day. "The telethon was successful beyond my wildest dreams and that is entirely because of the Incirlik community's participation and enthusiasm," said Captain Olson. Contributions to the AFAF will support one of these four official Air Force charitable organizations: -The Air Force Village. The Air Force Village was established in 1964, and is a retirement community for Air Force officer's spouses who need financial assistance. Surviving spouses are provided with a secure and comfortable environment to live. For more information visit the website at, http://www.airforcevillages.com/military-ccrc-community/ - The Air Force Aid Society. The Air Force Aid Society offers interest-free loans to servicemembers when living and emergency expenses become overwhelming. The AFAS has helped 39,000 Airmen and provided $18.3 million in assistance in its more than 68 years of existence. Visit the website at, http://www.afas.org/ -The Air Force Enlisted Village. The Air Force Enlisted Village has served as a haven for more than 1,500 surviving spouses since 1975. The organization provides housing to surviving spouses of enlisted members who died while on active duty. Visit the Air Force Enlisted Village website here, http://www.afenlistedwidows.org/ -The LeMay Foundation. The LeMay Foundation helps widows of all Air Force retirees--both officer and enlisted--by granting financial assistance. Find more information, visit the website at, http://www.lemay-foundation.org/ Contributors were able to choose the organization(s) they wanted to donate to, and could make a one-time cash donation or set up contributions through payroll deductions. All donations were voluntary and private. Incirlik Airmen received $32,520 in assistance from the AFAS in 2010. "The Incirlik community came together and made this year's AFAF campaign a huge success," concluded the captain.