Airmen raise money for Air Force Enlisted Village

More airmen are looking out for the Air Force Enlisted Village, a place they or a loved one may call home someday.

Air Force Enlisted Village near Fort Walton Beach, Fla. was founded in 1967 and has over 500 widowed or elderly spouses of retired Air Force personnel. Today, the nonprofit operates on contributions from hundreds of individuals and organizations.

Just before the new year, Staff Sgt. William Brock, from Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, was set to climb North America’s third-tallest peak, Pico de Orizaba in Mexico, to raise funds for the AFEV.

And now, airmen at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., are one of many sponsors raising money for the village at the upcoming 10th Annual Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf Classic tournament at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 17 to 18.

The Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf tournament is an AFEV fundraiser.

The “Desert Lightning Team” began collecting money back in February. So far, they’ve collected $1,000 from professional organizations around base, as well as an additional $500 in ticket sales offering individuals a chance to win a trip to the U.S. Open golf tournament.

Team members can register eight golfers through the gold sponsorship which is $5,000; four golfers through the silver sponsorship which is $2,500; and finally two golfers through the bronze sponsorship which is $1,000.

The money being collected will go towards various projects to improve the widows’ lifestyle.

“Things like repairs, transportation, upgrades and entertainment, just anything to enhance their lives,” said Senior Master Sgt. Walter Fortenberry, 355th Civil Engineer Squadron and point of contact for the fundraiser, in an Air Force press release.

Donating money isn’t the only way airmen can help either.

Fortenberry said AFEV is always looking for help, and the nonprofit is open to suggestions for other fundraising ideas that will raise money for the widows.

Want to help? To register for the golf tournament, please visit www.afev.us/GolfClassic.html. And visit AFEV’s website at www.afev.us.