In This Issue: Scholarship Applications Now Open for the 2025-2026 Academic Year Over $74K Raised Celebrating the Space Force’s 5th Birthday Did You Know – AFAS Now Offers $150 for Baby Essentials New Board Member Announcement – Lt Gen (Ret) John Dolan Supporting Organization Spotlight – First Command Create a Legacy of Support with a Beneficiary Designation Scholarship Applications Now Open for the 2025-2026 Academic Year Students pursuing a 4-year college degree can apply for need-based tuition assistance through our Hap Arnold Education Grant program. The application window for the 2025-2026 academic year is open now through April 30th. This scholarship is designed to assist the children and spouses of Airmen and Guardians pursue their academic goals. Award amounts are tailored to individual financial needs, taking into account family income, education costs, and information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Those who apply for the Hap Arnold Grant will also be considered for additional educational support opportunities, including the Merit Scholarship, Grit Scholarship and interest-free loan programs. To review the eligibility criteria and required documents, and to apply, visit afas.org/haparnoldgrant. Over $74K Raised Celebrating the Space Force’s 5th Birthday Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating the Space Force’s 5th birthday on December 20th! Through the incredible generosity of our donors and the support
In This Issue: Giving Tuesday #missionGIVE Update Recent Event Highlights – Honoring & Supporting our Military Community Celebrate the Space Force’s Birthday Tuition Assistance for Spouses Still Available BBB Report – Marketplace Challenges Facing the Military Community Supporting Organization Spotlight – NFCU & BWF Make an Impact Before Year End Giving Tuesday #missionGIVE Update Thanks to the generosity of our donors, AFAS raised over $114,000 during this year’s #missionGIVE campaign! These funds will directly support programs and services for Airmen, Guardians, and their families. A special thanks to Lockheed Martin for their generous matching gift. This accomplishment was part of a combined effort by the four military aid societies – Air Force Aid Society, Army Emergency Relief, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society – to raise critical funds for our military communities. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made this success possible. Together, we are making a lasting impact! Learn more about this initiative here. Recent Event Highlights: Honoring & Supporting our Military Community This November, AFAS participated in two impactful events dedicated to honoring and supporting our military community: Military Appreciation Breakfast Panel (Washington, DC) On November 11, Booz Allen Hamilton hosted an event honoring past and present service members and their families. AFAS CEO Ed Thomas joined Army Emergency Relief CEO Michael Grinston,
In This Issue: Disaster Relief Update Mercy Medical Angels: Providing Life-Saving Transport Campaign to Connect AFAS Honored as a KPMG Community Champion Supporting Organization Spotlight – HII Make a Lasting Impact This Season Over $4M Disbursed in Disaster Relief In response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, our team worked around the clock and provided over $4 million in aid directly to more than 4,700 Airmen and their families impacted by those devasting storms. We are extremely proud of our Operations Team’s hard work and the support of our generous donors! Airmen and Guardians impacted by these hurricanes can still apply for emergency financial assistance through our Standard Assistance program. This includes all active duty, reserve, guard and retirees. Learn more and start an application. Mercy Medical Angels: Providing Life-Saving Transport We’re proud to share an update on our partnership with Mercy Medical Angels, who are providing critical medical transportation assistance to Airmen, Guardians and their families. Between July 1 and September 30, 2024, Mercy Medical Angels utilized AFAS-funded grant to provide a total of 155 trips, primarily for essential medical care and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) treatments. This support helps ensure our Air and Space Force community can reach their vital medical care – when they need it most. Campaign to Connect Update This November,
In This Issue: Hurricane Updates Over $60K Raised Celebrating the Air Force’s 77th Birthday Campaign to Connect Update Did You Know? Stay Connected on Social Media Estate Planning – How a Bequest Can Make an Impact Hurricane Helene & Milton Updates In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Air Force Aid Society swiftly provided essential-financial support to those impacted. To date, we’ve assisted over 1,900 Airmen, Guardians and their families, disbursing more than $1.6M for food, lodging and fuel. Some of the hardest-hit areas included Tyndall AFB, Hurlburt Field, MacDill AFB, Eglin AFB, Patrick SFB, 125 FW Jacksonville and Moody AFB. The rapid response ensured our members received the help they needed during this difficult time. However, the situation is far from over. With Hurricane Milton now approaching, we anticipate even more support will be needed in the coming days. Our team is prepared to accept and process applications for assistance as quickly as possible. As a reminder, all active duty, reserve, guard and retirees are all eligible for AFAS assistance in the event of a natural disaster. We’re here to help when you need us most! Learn more about our support here. Want to Help? In times of crisis, every bit of support makes a difference. By donating today, you can help ensure Airmen, Guardians, and their families
In This Issue: New Donation Page – More Payment Options Celebrating the Air Force’s 77th Birthday with First Command Mercy Medical Angels Partnership Education Support – AFAS Scholarship Impacts Success Story AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference 2024 Supporting Organization Spotlight – SAIC Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) Benefits New Donation Page – More Payment Options & Improved Experience We are excited to announce the launch of our new Donation Page with expanded payment options and an improved donor experience. We believe these improvements will make it easier for supporters to securely contribute to the important work we do to assist Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Expanded Payment Options: The page now supports multiple payment options – including Credit Cards, Bank Accounts, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Google Pay – so donors can choose the most convenient method to meet their needs. Updated Process: In addition to offering more ways to give, the step-by-step process is designed to make it easy for users, whether donating on a computer, tablet or smartphone. Visit www.afas.org/donate to see the improvements and make your donation today. Celebrating the Air Force’s 77th Birthday with First Command On September 18, we celebrate the 77th birthday of the U.S. Air Force, honoring the legacy and dedication of the Airmen who serve our nation. In honor of
