Team Dover preps for AFAF

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman William Johnson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Team Dover is preparing to kick off its annual campaign to contribute to the Air Force Assistance Fund.

The AFAF lends critical support to fellow Airmen and their families regardless if they are active-duty or retired, officer or enlisted. Contributions enable the AFAF to assist Airmen and families with emergency needs, educational assistance, family support and provides comfort and dignity to Air Force widows and widowers.

The kick off begins Feb. 29, and will last through until April 8. Last year, Team Dover raised more than $50,000 and this year the goal is increasing to help give back.

"This is a campaign for us to raise the funds that allow us to give back to the Airmen," said 2nd Lt. Dawn Resurreccion, 436th Force Support Squadron, Fitness Center director and AFAF installation project officer. "Our goal this year is to raise $62,716."

Squadron representatives for the AFAF will conduct daily walk arounds through their squadrons and work areas during the campaign to ask for contributions. Airmen wishing to contribute can pick different charities to donate to.

Contributions, which are tax deductible, go to support four different charities:

The Air Force Aid Society: Provides Airmen and their families worldwide with emergency financial assistance, education assistance and various base-level community-enhancement programs. More information can be found at www.afas.org.

The Air Force Enlisted Village: Supports Teresa Village in Fort Walton Beach, Florida and Bob Hope Village in Shalimar, Florida, near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The fund provides homes and financial assistance to retired enlisted members' widows and widowers who are 55 and older. It also supports Hawthorn House which provides assisted living for residents, including 24-hour nursing care. More information can be found at www.afev.us.

The Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation: Donations support independent and assisted living needs for retired officers and their spouses, widows or widowers and family members. Communities are located in San Antonio, Texas. More information can be found at www.afvgiving.org.

The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation: Provides rent and financial assistance to widows and widowers of officer and enlisted retirees in their homes and communities through financial grants of assistance. More information can be found at www.Lemay-foundation.org.

Master Sgt. Matthew Galiszuski, 436th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight chief, said donations can also be made at each of the charities websites, but those contributions will not count towards the Team Dover goal. He urges all Airmen willing to donate to do so through their squadron AFAF representatives.

"If everybody helps out a little bit, it can help one person or one family out a lot," he said.

The AFAF has helped several Team Dover members in the past.

Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Vaccaro, 436th MXS Maintenance Flight chief, turned to the Air Force Aid Society as a new technical sergeant when disaster struck his family. On Dec. 23, 2008, Vaccaro had received word that his mother-in-law was ill and in the hospital, she passed away in the middle of the night.

"So it was the holidays and I had already spent most of my money for Christmas on my family and kids," said Vaccaro. "My mother-in-law lived in Puerto Rico, so when we got the bad news, I was slim on funds to buy five plane tickets to go to Puerto Rico on Christmas Eve."

Vaccaro turned to his first sergeant for help. Eventually he was directed towards the Air Force Aid Society where he received an interest free loan for $5,000 dollars to help with travel expenses. Within a few hours, he had the check and was flying out on Christmas day to take care of his family. Vaccaro said he is forever grateful for the helped he received that day.

"Things happen in life, and at the particular moment in my life I was going through some detrimental times," said Vaccaro. "The members of my unit helped me get through those times and the Air Force Aid Society was a big part of that. Those people really didn't have to come in on their Christmas Eve and help me out. They got me the assistance I needed so I could get to where I needed to go and take care of my family."

To see another story of how the AFAF has helped a Team Dover Airman. Click here.