Archive for November, 2009

The National Red Kettle Kickoff  for The Salvation Army takes place on Thanksgiving Day with Grammy-nominated  rock band, Daughtry, performing live at the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the Oakland Raiders in a nationally televised halftime show that will air on CBS television network on November 26, 2009 at 3:15 pm CST.  The performance will officially kick off The Salvation Army’s 2009 Red Kettle Christmas campaign, the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States.

Daughtry’s performance will mark the 13th year that the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game halftime show officially launches the Red Kettle Christmas Campaign on a nationally televised stage. The event has become an annual holiday tradition for fans in attendance.  Previous halftime performers include Jonas Brothers, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny’s Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Creed, Jessica Simpson, Billy Gillman, Clint Black, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.

The Red Kettle campaign has raised more than $1 billion since the partnership began in 1997 and has helped the Army to serve 30 million people each year nationwide. Last year, the campaign raised a record $130 million.

For more than a decade Mr. Jones and his family have been major supporters of The Salvation Army. The Jones family and the Dallas Cowboys  help The Salvation Army express the importance of giving back during the Christmas season. This partnership has evolved into a great holiday tradition.  

As the national honorary Salvation Army Christmas chairperson, Dallas Cowboys owner and manager, Mr. Jerry Jones will act as an advocate for the campaign during Christmas by helping to spread the word about The Salvation Army’s critical programs year-round.

Mr. Jones is now an Emeritus member of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board and his daughter, Charlotte Jones Anderson and wife Gene currently serve as active board members.

Did you know that the Red Kettle Campaign is a tradition which began in 1891?

From its original beginnings as a fundraiser started by a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco in 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States. As part of the campaign, more than 25,000 Salvation Army volunteers spread throughout the country to ring bells daily and solicit spare change donations to the iconic red kettles from holiday shoppers.

In 2008, the campaign raised more than $130 million nationwide, a new record supported by the public’s  nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars (and the occasional diamond ring or gold tooth) all collected and used to help people in the communities where they were raised.

Last year, the funds helped The Salvation Army provide food, clothing, toys and other assistance to nearly 30 million Americans in need. In addition to physical kettles, donors can also contribute online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or through a virtual red kettle on any number of corporate or individual websites and Facebook pages.

The state of the economy has forced an increasing amount of people across the country to seek help from The Salvation Army.  The continued public support of the Red Kettle campaign is a major reason why the Army able to provide families with food, utility assistance, adult rehabilitation from alcohol and drug addiction, disaster relief and other services to more than 5,000 communities nationwide.

Share your experience as a bell ringer.