AFAF to kick off, help raise money for Air Force members Published March 15, 2010 By Senior Airman Alex Martinez 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Last year was a success for Incirlik's Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, which raised 190 percent of its monetary goal, and this year's campaign organizers hope to raise even more. This year's official goal is to raise $27,343 for the campaign's four affiliate charities: The Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Village Foundation, Air Force Enlisted Village and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation. "Granted, it would be awesome if we matched last year's total of $51 thousand but as long as we focus on giving each member of the Incirlik community an opportunity to donate, the campaign will be a success," said Capt. Kevin Manis, AFAF organizer. According to the AFAF Web site, the AFAF was established to assist an annual effort to raise funds for charitable affiliates that provide support to Air Force members in need. Air Force members who are active duty, retired, reserves, guard and their dependents, including surviving spouses benefit from the charities. "I think the AFAF is very important," Captain Manis said. "The AFAF and its four affiliate charities do great things for our Airmen and their families, hence the AFAF motto: "from enlistment through retirement...taking care of our own." To kick off the campaign, members of Incirlik's American Forces Network will be hosting the AFAF Telethon in an effort to reach the $27,343 goal. The event will be held March 17 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and events throughout the day will include: - Fee-based song requests - $1 per song and $2 to bump - Jail and bail - $1 per minute with 30 minute minimum (no blackberries will be allowed in jail) - Auction items - Dunk-a-Shirt or Chief (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) - $2 for three balls - Human foosball tournament (9a.m. to 1 p.m.), five people per team and $20 per team Incirlik members will be able to watch the event live on the Commander's Access Channel and listen on AFNI 1590AM. People can donate money via check or cash, and automatic payroll deduction is available for active duty and retired members only. People interested in donating should contact their unit project officer: - 39th Air Base Wing Staff Agency: Staff Sgt. Bruce Shoffner - 39th Operations Squadron: 2nd Lt. Anthony Bowman - 39th Comptrollers Squadron: Staff Sgt. Bruce Shoffner - 39th Medical Group: Master Sgt. Shawn Plowman and Master Sgt. Lizandra O'Neill - 39th Mission Support Group Staff and the 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron: 1st Lt. Lindsay King - 39th Civil Engineer Squadron: Staff Sgt. Cody Cochran - 39th Communications Squadron: Staff Sgt. Charles Martin - 39th Security Forces Squadron: Master Sgt. Vittorio Williams - 39th Contracting Squadron: Staff Sgt. Adam Barnes - 39th Force Support Squadron: Master Sgt. Gretchen Brashears - 39th Maintenance Group: Tech. Sgt. Karl Babcock, Staff Sgt. Amanda Shepard and Staff Sgt. Arron Patton - 728th Air Mobility Squadron: Staff Sgt. Niavasha Slade - Air Force Office of Special Investigations Det. 522: Tech. Sgt. Nicole Basnight - 425th Air Base Squadron/NATO: Staff Sgt. Jennifer Abel and Staff Sgt. Rusti Girroir - 717th Air Base Squadron: Tech. Sgt. Shawn Messer - Combiner Air Operations Center 6: Staff Sgt. Harvey Munoz-Torres - American Forces Network Det. 7: Airman 1st Class Christopher Jacobs For information on the affiliate charities visit http://www.afassistancefund.org.