JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
When the Year of the Air Force Family grant money came out in April allotting $430k, Joint Base Charleston was delighted to find two of their proposals had been approved.
One successful proposal included financial planning directed at children ages 5-8 and their families. The Airman and Family Readiness Center coordinated the visit of "It's a Habit" Sammy Rabbit to talk to children about saving money.
"The program is designed for children to get them thinking about saving money as a habit--the songs are catchy and the kids just love the costumes," said Elsa Summers, the sponsor from the Airman and Family Readiness Center for this event.
Sammy Rabbit visited Hunley Park Elementary and Lambs Elementary schools before coming to speak at the Youth Center and Library here at JB CHS. The "It's a Habit" company focuses on educating children and their families on fiscal responsibility as well as other empowering life skills and habits.
In accordance with the Air Force's increasing fitness standards, JB CHS's Fitness Center was also pleased to find they will be receiving funding for outdoor fitness equipment. The Sports Play Family Fitness proposal included outdoor circuit training equipment, similar to that of a fitness trail, but is geared more toward families. The level of ability is better accommodated to family fitness.
"The new equipment will be set up almost like a fitness playground area. It will be similar to an outdoor mall gymnasium," said Master Sgt. Tina Todaro, the section chief at the base fitness center.
The location is yet to be determined, but will be in an area easily accessible to Airmen and their families.
These two grants were part of an initiative from Air Mobility Command headquarters for any AMC base that proposed ideas. Joint Base Charleston applied for a number of grants for different projects and received approval for both of these.
"The command did a really good job of trying new initiatives and spreading the money--we all got different things, depending on the interest of the base," said Linda Caldwell, the point of contact for all JBC's Year of the Air Force Family initiatives.
Year of the Air Force Family began in July 2009 as a year long reminder of the importance of Airmen and their families. Joint Base Charleston has been continuously providing activities for YoAFF such as "Deplayment" for deployed family members, the monthly deployed spouses' dinner and much more. The YoAFF ends this July, but the continued effort to support the Air Force family will remain constant.
For more information on YoAFF initiatives and programs, please contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 963-4406.