JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
The theme "Commitment to Caring" will carry Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph through its 2012 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, which begins Monday and continues through May 6.
In announcing the 39th annual campaign, Col. Scott Peel, 902nd Mission Support Group commander, said the theme "continues our legacy of 'Airmen helping Airmen' through our four Air Force charities - Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Enlisted Village, Air Force Village and the Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.
"Thanks to the generous donations, Air Force Assistance Fund charities have provided Airmen - active duty and retired - with a full range of critical services for decades," he said. "Today the need is greater than ever and I encourage commanders at all levels to assist in raising awareness of this worthy cause."
The base launched the six-week campaign Thursday with a kickoff breakfast at the Parr O'Club. Army Col. Robert Bridgford, JBSA vice commander, served as host and Wendy Warner, 902nd Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant, discussed the fund's benefits.
JBSA-Randolph's installation project officers this year are Senior Master Sgt. John Coleman, 902nd Contracting Squadron superintendent and first sergeant; Master Sgt. Jason Barbour, 1st Manpower Requirements Squadron C Flight NCO in charge; and Master Sgt. Samuel Figueroa Jr., 902nd Security Forces Squadron flight chief.
Figueroa said the base's goal this year is $170,600, which represents a 5 percent increase over last year's contributions of $162,450.
"We can solicit from active-duty members and retired military, but anyone can contribute, including civilian employees and contractors," he said.
Barbour said the AFAF campaign differs from the fall Combined Federal Campaign, which benefits community nonprofit organizations that provide health and human service benefits. The Air Force charities provide assistance to active-duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and retired personnel as well as surviving Air Force spouses.
"It's the Air Force taking care of its own," he said. "A lot of people we know have been impacted."
Figueroa said he benefited from the campaign as a young Airman when he owed $2,000 in taxes on a car he had purchased.
"The Air Force Aid Society gave me an interest-free loan," he said.
Coleman said he received assistance from the Air Force Aid Society when he was stationed at Hahn Air Base, Germany, in the 1990s.
"We had a death in the family and needed $1,200," he said. "I was a young Airman with a wife and a brand new child. Without their help, we would not have gotten home."
Coleman said a lieutenant in the 902nd Contracting Squadron recently benefited from the campaign.
"He had a sick family member and he was able to go back to Chicago," he said.
The JBSA-Randolph campaign includes Airmen assigned to the base, Joint Base San Antonio headquarters and other detachments at Fort Sam Houston and geographically separated units outside San Antonio.
"We're hoping that unit project officers will make 100 percent contact during the campaign," Figueroa said. "A lot of people have been touched by the Air Force Assistance Fund, so hopefully they will take that into consideration when they are contacted."
Coleman said unit fundraisers such as car washes, bake sales, burger burns and doughnut sales will be allowed from April 22-May 4.
"We encourage units to have fundraiser to raise money at the back end of the campaign," he said. "We would like each unit to have one fundraising event."