The Retired Air Force Marine Army Navy Club, Inc.—better known as the RAFMAN Club—began in 1974 as a social organization for retired serviceman. Though its membership is not limited to retired military men, the 22 members of the RAFMAN Club include veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Members of the RAFMAN Club seek to provide faith, love and charity to the community; represent themselves as participants in an elite group; and share their military experiences with others. Their motto makes their mission clear: “Men striving together to make a better community for all concerned.”
To that end, the RAFMAN Club donated money to help the victims of Hurricane Andrew in South Florida and Hurricane Hugo in South Carolina. After the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., the RAFMAN Club also donated to the September 11, 2001 Fund. The RAFMAN Club donated money to help families and victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
The RAFMAN Club also ushers in various churches throughout the Orlando area, and each year they give away food baskets to the needy during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. They assist the elected representative for Orlando’s District 6 in the annual Community Festival Picnic, and club members volunteer during the yearly Zora Neal Hurston Festival, helping with concessions and security. The RAFMAN Club supports the Boys and Girls Club with a quarterly event at various clubs.
Since 1997, the RAFMAN Club has partnered with the Southwest Orlando Jaycees to present the celebrations honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.(MLK Holiday Parade). These events consist of an annual parade and the Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy Prayer Breakfast, and the King festival with star 94.5 at Lake Eola. The RAFMAN Club volunteers to help the Mayor’s Veterans Advisory Council with the Veteran’s Day Parade and other military events.
For the last twelve years, the RAFMAN Club has sponsored an academic scholarship through a partnership with Valencia Community College Foundation. More than $12,000 has been awarded to deserving African American students who have gone on to pursue careers in medicine, law, business and education. We are also giving an outstanding citizen award.
In addition, the RAFMAN Club honors senior citizens in the community by hosting summer and winter banquets at the L. Claudia Allen Senior Citizens Center in southwest Orlando. Complete with games and entertainment, the events are meant to make each senior feel special. To that end, club members ensure that each participant receives a prize. The RAFMAN Club co-sponsors the monthly birthday celebrations along with the Southwest Orlando Jaycees and L. Claudia Allen Senior Center and co-sponsors the L. Claudia Allen Seniors Board Annual Senior Prom.
The RAFMAN Club supports Star 94.5 with numerous health summits, food-distribution efforts and voter-registration drives. They also assist in organizing an annual picnic for Orlando’s District 6, working with the elected representative serving that area. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. The club has received a proclamation for its outstanding work from former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, Mayor Buddy Dyer and Congresswoman Corrine Brown. The RAFMAN Club is now a nonprofit organization, with a 501.c3 that will help them better serve the Orlando area.
A wise person once said that the ultimate expression of leadership is service to others. The RAFMAN Club demonstrates that leadership every day as they work to serve Orlando and one another.
