{"id":11364,"date":"2025-05-27T17:42:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T17:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=11364"},"modified":"2025-05-27T17:42:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T17:42:22","slug":"serving-those-who-serve-military-community-donates-more-than-2-7-million-to-military-relief-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/05\/27\/serving-those-who-serve-military-community-donates-more-than-2-7-million-to-military-relief-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"Serving Those Who Serve: Military Community Donates More than $2.7 Million to Military Relief Funds"},"content":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>During 2024, Exchange shoppers contributed more than $2.7 million<\/a> to Army Emergency Relief (AER), the Air Force Assistance Fund (AFAF) and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), a 7.1% increase from the previous year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Exchange is honored to partner with military relief agencies to help service members and families when they need it most,\u201d said Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull, an Army Veteran. \u201cExchange shoppers are generous, and their donations are key to strengthening readiness and retention.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2017, Exchange shoppers have donated more than $11.9 million to AER, AFAF and NMCRS. These donations fund critical programs such as interest-free loans, scholarships and grants that ease financial burdens associated with education, emergencies and other unexpected challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to the generosity of the Exchange community, AER can provide our Soldiers and their families financial assistance when they need it most,\u201d said retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Tony Grinston, AER CEO.<\/p>\n

Retired Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, who leads the Air Force Aid Society, one of four charities that benefits from the AFAF, says the partnership helps Airmen and Guardians take care of their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery penny of every dollar donated by Exchange shoppers helps an Airman, Guardian, or their families facing a moment of crisis,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cThese contributions provide real, immediate support when it’s needed most.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2023, shoppers in the Pacific have been able to donate to NMCRS.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the beginning of our partnership, the contributions of Exchange shoppers in the Pacific Region have been critical to\u00a0Marines, Sailors and their families,\u00a0providing them with free, confidential resources,\u201d said retired Marine Lt. Gen. Robert Ruark, NMCRS President\/CEO.<\/p>\n

Exchange shoppers can donate $1 at the register or speak with an associate to contribute more to support these agencies. Online shoppers can donate in $5 increments at ShopMyExchange.com.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Exchange\u2019s contribution to this initiative, visit https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/Community\/give\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Social-media-friendly version: <\/strong>Exchange shoppers, @AERHQ, @AirForceAssistanceFund and @NMCRS1 join forces to make military communities stronger. Find out more about how generosity strengthens lethality: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-2Xi<\/a><\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 52nd<\/sup>-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, the Exchange benefit has provided $15 billion in value to the military community, including through contributions to critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at\u00a0http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a>\u00a0or follow us on X at\u00a0https:\/\/x.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Teonja Tatum at 214-312-6514 or tatumte@aafes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 During 2024, Exchange shoppers contributed more than $2.7 million to Army Emergency Relief (AER), the Air Force Assistance Fund (AFAF) and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), a 7.1% increase from the previous year. \u201cThe Exchange is honored to partner with military relief agencies to help service members and families when they need […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":11367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25],"tags":[160,174,507,107,528],"class_list":["post-11364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases","tag-aafes","tag-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-donations","tag-exchange","tag-relief-fund"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/05\/27\/serving-those-who-serve-military-community-donates-more-than-2-7-million-to-military-relief-funds\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Serving Those Who Serve: Military Community Donates More than $2.7 Million to Military Relief Funds","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/05\/27\/serving-those-who-serve-military-community-donates-more-than-2-7-million-to-military-relief-funds\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/05\/27\/serving-those-who-serve-military-community-donates-more-than-2-7-million-to-military-relief-funds\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/ReliefFund-Donations.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/ReliefFund-Donations.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Travis Day"}],"creator":["Travis Day"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["aafes","army & air force exchange service","donations","exchange","relief fund"],"dateCreated":"2025-05-27T17:42:22Z","datePublished":"2025-05-27T17:42:22Z","dateModified":"2025-05-27T17:42:22Z"},"rendered":"