Shaw raisers $4K for widows Published May 19, 2006 By Chief Master Sgt. Gary Rutledge 20th Fighter Wing command chief master sgt. SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Shaw donated more than $4,000 recently to the Air Force Enlisted Village in Shalimar, Florida. The village is a non-profit home founded in 1967 after the Air Force Sergeant’s Association discovered that there were more than 50,000 widows of Air Force enlisted men living below the poverty level. Their mission is to offer housing and financial assistance to widows of enlisted Air Force members. All of their funding comes from donations. The Air Force Assistance Fund has money earmarked for the village. In early April a call went out for some help with donations and Team Shaw stepped up in a big way. Shaw donated more than $4000 in two separate payments. Organizations from all over Shaw stepped up from $25 to $500. The village has three levels of care and apartment living: Teresa Village, which is the original apartment complex, houses both couples and widows and widowers. Bob Hope village is the second phase that was built, is near Eglin Air Force Base and houses offices and apartments. Almost $3000 of Shaw’s donations went toward the Dolores Hope All Faith Chapel. In the summer of 2005 the Hawthorne house, which is a limited assisted living home, opened and expanded the capabilities of the village. In the future, they hope to open a fully assisted living home and up-grade Teresa Village. Shaw will be keeping a donations account open all year and will make another donation in 2007. For more information contact Chief Master Sgt. Gary Rutledge at 895-2013.