FORT RUCKER, Ala. (February 27, 2015) -- After raising more than $122,000 during last year's campaign, the Army Emergency Relief fundraising campaign is gearing up to help Soldiers help Soldiers.
The 2015 AER fundraising campaign will run March 1 through May 15, with a kickoff celebration at the Army Aviation Museum March 4 at 2 p.m. as a way to reach the primary goal of 100 percent contact with all active-duty Soldiers, along with retirees and their family members, said Capt. Skylar Emery-Munn, AER campaign coordinator.
The mission of the program is to be able to help Soldiers who are in need, not just by providing funds, but by providing awareness of the program and showing what AER and Army Community Service have available to them, he said.
"By having Soldiers helping Soldiers, it allows AER to best utilize the funds that they raise," said Emery-Munn. "It's a good way for Soldiers to help the person to their left and right. A lot of the people who come in and use AER aren't always necessarily the junior Soldiers, so a lot of (higher-ranking) Soldiers have used the program and know what it's like to have to go through hard financial times."
Throughout the campaign period, fundraising events will be held to not only raise money for the campaign, but promote awareness, said the campaign coordinator.
One of the most popular events held throughout the campaign season is the Army Aviation Center Credit Union Golf Tournament to benefit AER, which normally raises about $15,000 for the campaign every year.
"Each year, Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union helps out by providing the golf tournament for the campaign, and it's always really appreciated," said Emery-Munn. "They could easily be using that money to make themselves money, but they're using it to help Soldiers in need, and that's the kind of awareness we need."
The golf tournament will be held April 17 at Silver Wings Golf Course during which people will compete in teams for prizes.
If Soldiers wish to donate, the best way is to find their unit or directorate representative. People can elect to make a one-time donation or have an allotment out of their pay donated to the cause.
AER has provided $1.7 billion in interest-free loans and grants to more than 3.6 million active-duty, National Guard and Reserve Soldiers since its inception after World War II, said Beth Gunter, Army Community Service. In 2014, nearly 200 Soldiers received assistance of over $270,000 from the Fort Rucker AER Office in the form of food, rent, utilities, vehicle expenses and repairs, emergency travel, funeral expenses, and certain medical expenses.
Soldiers needing AER financial assistance can contact their unit chain of command or go directly to Fort Rucker's AER office in Bldg. 5700.
For more information, call 255-2341.
Related Links:
USAACE and Fort Rucker on Twitter
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