Robins exceeds AFAF contribution goal Published May 8, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78 ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- Often, people at Robins go beyond the call of duty. That type of performance was mirrored in the base's contributions to the 2008 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, which ran from March 24 to May 2. Robins exceeded its $86,108 goal, collecting $96,412.72 in total contributions in this year's campaign. Maj. Nicholas Marotta, 2008 AFAF lead installation project officer at Robins, said the base rated above average in campaign contributions against other Air Force Materiel Command bases. "I'm really happy we achieved our goal," he said. "The most I'm happy about is that we achieved our goal for the Airmen who are going to get the help and the people who are going to get to use Air Force Assistance. I've seen it work firsthand with the Airmen who have received help." Capt. Cecil Woolard, assistant installation project officer for the local AFAF campaign, said he's grateful so many people gave. "I really want to commend the base on exceeding our goal," he said. Captain Woolard said with the base preparing for the Operational Readiness Inspection through most of the campaign, the challenge of meeting the goal was tough, but people came through in the end. "This is an extension of Maj. Gen. Tom Owen's wingman policy," he said. "This is Air Force people taking care of Air Force people." AFAF contributions came mostly from active-duty military members through payroll deduction donations, but civilians also gave through cash and check donations, said Maj. Marotta. The major said the outcome couldn't have been so successful without the muscle behind the campaign: its many workers. "I want to thank everyone for their contributions," he said. "With the ORI in the middle, it made it a little more difficult, but actually we had our best contribution week the week after the ORI took place. We did really well on the ORI and they kept the same focus for the AFAF and did an outstanding job." Mary Davidson, one several installation project officers in AFAF campaign, said she's proud of how well Robins pulled together for the campaign. "We had a late start, but we picked up speed and hit it hard," she said. "I think we're all pleased with the outcome." Major Marotta said the 2009 AFAF campaign is expected to kick off around mid-February and run through May.