With help from American donors, The Salvation Army nationally raised $147.6 million through the 2011 Red Kettle Campaign, marking a new fundraising record for the campaign. The new record, a 3.4% increase from 2010, highlights the suport of American donors who gave generously despite a continued slow economy. Across the United States, volunteers rang bells at over 25,000 kettle sites.
In Nashville, The Salvation Army kicked off the local Red Kettle campaign on stage at the Ryman Auditorium during a press event and musical celebration in early November 2011. Middle Tennessean's donated $375,231 to the iconic Red Kettles. Over 276 volunteers gave 1,004 hours of their service. Locally, the Red Kettles saw a decrease in donations by 15%.
"In troubling times, we are truly grateful for the generosity of the American donor to support the traditions of the campaign and help The Salvation Army carry on its Mission," said Commissioner William Roberts, National Commander of The Salvation Army. "We have been working to expand the Red Kettle Campaign to reach new and young donors, and with continued support, we are able to meet human need in His name during the winter months and year round."
"We are ever grateful for the charitable support and compassion of all our corporate partners," said Commissioner Roberts. "Through their big-heartedness, along with the generosity of the millions of Americans who gave, The Salvation Army is able to continue its work to help those in need."
Salvation Army bell-ringers manned red kettles at store fronts and in shopping malls nationwide. Corporate partners Walmart and Sam's Club, who have been a partner with the Army for nearly 30 years, hosted kettles at store and club locations to collect $41.5 million and $5 million respectively, or 32 percent of this year's total. The Walmart Foundation also made a donation of $1 million to the Army as part of its effort to support hunger relief in America.
"We want to thank our associates, customers and members for their extreme generosity in giving to The Salvation Army during the holiday season," said Michelle Gilliard, senior director at the Walmart Foundation. "Each dollar raised at Red Kettles in front of our stores and clubs are making an impact in local communities and helping individuals and families live better."
More than 2,100 Kroger store locations across the country hosted kettles, raising $13.1 million, or 9 percent of the campaign's total. In Middle Tennessee, 33 kettles raised $143,898 in donations! In addition to the Red Kettle fund raiser, Kroger stores also hosted a Food Angel program in the Nashville area. The program similar to the regular Angel Tree, invites customers to pick an Angel from the tree at their local Kroger store. Upon taking the angel to the register, a $25 tax deductible gift is added to their grocery bill to provide a Christmas dinner for an Angel Tree family.
"Without Kroger, Christmas would be a lot less filling for many hungry families," said Lt. Colonel Charles White, of the Nashville Area Command of The Salvation Army. "We cannot say thank you enough to all the generous people who wanted to make sure that everyone in this community had enough food during Christmas."
Online bell-ringers were also a big part of the Red Kettle Campaign for the seventh year in a row. By visiting The Salvation Army's Online Red Kettle (onlineredkettle.org), donors could raise money with family, friends and colleagues. The Army raised more than $1.7 million through the Online Red Kettles, up from $1.6 million in 2010. Other online donations in November and December, not through the Online Red Kettle system, totaled $17.6 million, a 28 percent increase over the $13.7 million raised in 2010.
In addition to raising $3.3 million in kettles at more than 600 jcpenney locations, The Salvation Army partnered with jcpenney for the third year to bring Christmas gifts to 63,000 children and seniors as part of the Angel Giving Tree Online at jcp.com/angel. Customers could adopt, shop and ship gifts for people in need through jcp.com.
"Technology is changing the way charities raise money. Whether through a credit card at a kettle or online, we're making an effort to reach the next generation of donors and make it convenient for people to support the campaign," said Commissioner Roberts.
About the Red Kettle Campaign
The Red Kettle Campaign, the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States, helps raise money for those who need it most in communities nationwide - providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round. From its humble 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 outreach efforts in the United States.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.