Team Incirlik exceeds AFAF goal by $22,723

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Wilson
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Team Incirlik and it's geographically separated units clearly exceeded their goal for the 2008 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign by raising almost $48,000. 

The AFAF is the official charity of the Air Force and gives short-term or one-time interest-free loans and grants for such emergencies involving food, rent, utilities and emergency travel. 

Four hundred and seventy-one members of team Incirlik donated to the AFAF, which benefits active duty, guard, reserve and retired Air Force members and their families. 

"Giving is a selfless act of kindness," said 1st Lt. Demetria Hundley, 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron and a 39th Air Base Wing AFAF coordinator. "That we exceeded our goal by $22,723 speaks volumes about the caring people in our community." 

Other donations to the AFAF from Incirlik Air Base came through more creative means this year. 

The 39 ABW AFAF coordinators organized a raffle with donations coming from local merchants. Tech. Sgt. Michael Morgan, 39th LRS, won the raffle prize, which includes gifts from various shops in the alley. The raffle raised $406 in tickets, which will be divided between the four AFAF charities: the Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Villages Indigent Widows Fund, Air Force Enlisted Indigent Widows Fund and the General and Mrs. Curtis LeMay Foundation. 

"The AFAF gives back directly to Air Force members," said 1st Lt. Christine Carr, 39th LRS and a 39 ABW AFAF coordinator. "We're helping our people, our families and ourselves." 

In 2007, the AFAS helped more than 35,000 Air Force members and their families with $19.1 million in financial assistance. There was $8.4 million given out for emergency assistance interest-free loans and grants, $8.3 million for education grants and spouse tuition assistance and $2.4 million for community enhancement programs such as give parents a break, child care and youth employment skill. 

"The AFAF goes on every year and whatever you give is greatly appreciated," said Lieutenant Hundley. "Our spouses as well as our veterans' relatives benefit from our donations." 

Team Incirlik has raised more than $170,000 for the AFAF and the Combined Federal Campaign in the last fiscal year. 

"This is a terrific accomplishment," said Col. Phil McDaniel, 39 ABW commander. "It's one thing to exceed your AFAF goal by a few thousand dollars, but we exceeded our by over $22,000. This says more than I could ever say myself about the quality of our people. I'd hope everyone here is as proud of our generosity as I am."