FORT RUCKER, Ala. (May 7, 2015) -- Every year, Army Emergency Relief holds its campaign season to raise money to help those in the Army who are in need, and one event is a key factor during the campaign season.
The Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union hosted the 25th annual Golf Tournament to Benefit AER and, like past tournaments, people came out in droves to support Soldiers, family members and retirees.
Col. Stuart J. McRae, Fort Rucker garrison commander, even decided to dust off his clubs and take to the greens as he participated in the tournament for the first time during his time at the installation.
"I haven't played in the last three years, so I'm coming out of retirement, so you guys watch out," he said before the tournament. "I want to thank everybody for coming out today and I want to thank Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union and their team who sponsor this every year."
Each year, AACFCU has consistently donated a substantial amount of money to the cause, up to $15,000 a year, to help Soldiers family members and retirees who fall on hard times and find themselves in need of financial assistance, said McRae.
"It's been our pleasure to host this tournament for the last 25 years," said Lisa Hales, vice president of marketing for AACFCU. "(AACFCU) started in 1966 with seven Soldiers at Fort Rucker, so that's where our roots are, and we want to do everything we can to support Fort Rucker and the Soldiers who are here protecting our freedoms."
The game was a four-person scramble, and prizes were given for first through fifth place, closest to the pin on certain holes, longest drive, and people even had the chance to win their choice of a 2015 Nissan Altima or Jeep Wrangler if they were lucky or skillful enough to sink a hole in one.
Unfortunately, no player had the precision to sink the hole-in-one shot to take home the grand prize, but the real prize is the support and donations raised through the event.
"AER is a very noble cause, and last year we raised over $126,000 and the year before we almost hit the record with about $148,000 in fundraising," said the garrison commander. "This year, we're over $100,000 already and the fundraising will continue until May 15, so if you haven't given to AER yet, I encourage you to fill out a form and give a little something to AER."
Having been around for more than 73 years, AER has helped more than 3.6 million Soldiers and contributed more than $1.7 billion, according to McRae. The funds are given out to Soldiers as loans, grants or scholarships for those in need.
Although there is little time left in the campaign season, units and organizations still have the chance to win the traveling trophy that will be awarded to the unit that raises the most amount of money, per capita, for the campaign. When the totals are tallied, the winning unit will have their organization, company, battalion and brigade added to the trophy to be forever known as that year's winner, a lasting mark of their contribution to the cause.
Soldiers in need of AER financial assistance should contact their unit chain of command or visit Fort Rucker's AER office in Bldg. 5700.
For more information on how to donate or get assistance, call 255-2341.
Related Links:
USAACE and Fort Rucker on Twitter
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