RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Randolph's Air Force Assistance Fund campaign again far exceeded the installation's fair share goal, nearly doubling the targeted amount of $88,459.
This year's campaign, which ended Sunday, topped $175,000.
"To date, we have received $175,200 in contributions toward our goal of $175,960," said Capt. Kelly Travis, base AFAF program manager.
He said Randolph establishes a 200 percent goal, double the fair share goal set by the Secretary of the Air Force based on persons served by the Military Personnel Flight.
Though the effort didn't match last year's total of more than $191,000, which was 225 percent of the assigned goal, it was still a significant achievement, Captain Travis said.
"It went really well," he said. "Though everyday expenses are higher this year - especially with gas prices - we still had a really good turnout. Our participation rate was almost 50 percent."
Randolph servicemembers' generosity also allowed the base to place third in the Air Education and Training Command and fourth throughout the Air Force in percentage of contributions.
The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign is an annual springtime fund-raising event. It's purpose is to raise money for four charities that help meet the needs of active-duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and retired personnel and their families. The organizations are the Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Enlisted Village Indigent Widows' Fund, the Air Force Villages Indigent Widows' Fund and The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.
Captain Travis said individual contributions collected by unit project managers weren't the only fund-raising vehicle. Individual units held events such as burger burns, bake sales, breakfast taco sales and drawings to raise money for the fund.
He cited examples such as the 12th Medical Group's drawing for a video gaming system and the 562nd and 563rd Flying Training Squadrons' burger burns.
Captain Travis said the commissary played a major role in two burger burns at the beginning and end of the campaign, providing the location and donating food for the fund-raisers.
The Air Force Assistance Fund is one of two annual fund-raising campaigns at Randolph; the other is the Combined Federal Campaign, which benefits charitable organizations in the community.