The Salvation Army’s 129th annual Red Kettle Campaign begins the season of giving today and invites people to join the Fight for Good all year long to help the nearly 40 million Americans experiencing poverty. The iconic campaign kicks off at AT&T Stadium with a special live nationally televised halftime performance during the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the Buffalo Bills, airing on CBS.
The Red Kettle Kickoff begins an exciting and crucial fundraising holiday season for The Salvation Army. Because the 2019 Thanksgiving holiday falls later in the season, this year’s holiday season will be six days shorter than last year’s. Fewer fundraising days mean the potential for a shortfall in total contributions, making early awareness and momentum all the more critical. With a mission to meet human needs wherever it exists, without discrimination, The Salvation Army seeks to combat hunger, homelessness, and hopelessness for anyone they can serve, regardless of sexual identity or orientation, gender, beliefs or any other factor.
“Fight for Good” serves as the official theme of the 2019 Red Kettle Campaign. It acts as a call to action, encouraging supporters to join the Fight for Good with donations in red kettles and online and imploring them to consider making recurring monthly contributions for significant, sustained impact.
“We’ve had the honor of hosting this kickoff for 23 years now, and each year, we are humbled to know the great impact The Salvation Army will make in the lives of millions of Americans throughout the year,” said Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Cowboys and former national advisory board chairperson for The Salvation Army.
The Red Kettle Campaign officially begins with Grammy Award-nominated and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding’s high-energy performance and the ceremonial red kettle donation from the Gene and Jerry Jones family. To highlight this year’s addition of the option to use Apple Pay or Google Pay at participating red kettles nationwide, the Jones will bump their smartphones to make a contribution during the traditional “coin drop.”
Since teaming up in 1997, The Salvation Army and the Cowboys have collaborated to raise nearly $2.5 billion for the Red Kettle Campaign, which provides America’s most vulnerable with food, shelter and other support throughout the year.
Ellie Goulding joins a star-studded list of past halftime performers: Meghan Trainor, Thomas Rhett, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Selena Gomez, Kenny Chesney, Enrique Iglesias, Keith Urban, Daughtry, Jonas Brothers, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny’s Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Creed, Jessica Simpson, Billy Gilman, Clint Black, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.
General Brian Peddle, the international leader of The Salvation Army, will be in attendance for the first time. He’ll be visiting Dallas from the organization’s global headquarters in London as part of a firsthand look at programs and services in the U. S. funded by the Red Kettle Campaign, which is one of the oldest and largest charitable initiatives in the world.
“Thanks to the support of The Salvation Army International Headquarters, the Dallas Cowboys, Ellie Goulding and those joining us in the Fight for Good, today we are able to shine a light on the crucial issues facing our neighbors most in need,” said Lt. Col. Ward Matthews, national spokesperson for The Salvation Army. “It is our mission to fight all year long for the nearly 40 million Americans in poverty.”
To donate to the 129th Red Kettle Campaign:
- Visit Give.SalvationArmyUSA.org.
- Drop money into any of the thousands of red kettles at partner storefront locations.
- Tell Amazon Alexa by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” then specify the amount.
- Sign up to give a sustaining monthly donation to help The Salvation Army year-round.
- Give any amount by texting “KETTLES” to 91999.
The Salvation Army is also giving donors a new way to join the Fight for Good at the red kettle. Simply use Apple Pay or Google Pay at participating red kettles to digitally and seamlessly help families in need to fight everyday battles all year long.
There are many other ways to get involved this year:
- Awakening Events, a national Christian concert promoter, and their partners Altrua HealthShare and K-LOVE Radio will be supporting local Salvation Army needs on four 2019 fall tours; the tours, which run until December 20, feature Michael W. Smith, Chonda Pierce, Mandisa and the K-LOVE Christmas Tour.
- Laser Quest, Live Nation, Robbins Brothers, Ultimate Software, Veritext and Waterton will either be supporting The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program or hosting a toy collection drive nationwide.
For more ways to volunteer and give back, and to find a local corps, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.
Supporters can donate to thousands of red kettles stationed outside outlets for Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, Big Lots, Boscov’s, Food Lion, Hobby Lobby/Mardel, JCPenney, Kroger Family of Stores, Macerich Properties, Macy’s/Bloomingdale’s, Rural King, Shopko, Walgreens, Walmart and Sam’s Club. Also, Covelli Enterprises – comprising Panera Bread, Dairy Queen and O’Charley’s – will be supporting The Salvation Army by either rounding up at the register or collecting donations via counter kettles.
From humble beginnings in 1891 as a Salvation Army captain’s start-up program in San Francisco, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States. It provides toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round. As part of the campaign, more than 25,000 Salvation Army volunteers throughout the country ring bells and solicit donations to the red kettles.
