The Salvation Army announced it will hold the official kickoff for its 2009 Red Kettle Campaign in conjunction with the Bengals home game on November 29.
The goal for the 2009 Red Kettle campaign for Greater Cincinnati is $600,000, a slight increase over the amount raised in 2008. The goal for donations at the kickoff event at the game is $15,000. As fans enter Paul Brown Stadium, they are being asked to "Bring a Buck – or More!" to deposit in the familiar red kettles, to help the less fortunate in Cincinnati this season.
A new element has been introduced this year to encourage donations at the game. The first 10,000 fans to make a donation of $1 or more will receive a custom Bengals pom pom collectible. The pom poms have been generously sponsored by The Kroger Company.
"We are very grateful to Kroger for providing these pom poms," stated Major Ronald R. Foreman, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army. "We are hopeful that fans coming to the game will want to make a contribution to get the pom pom, and this will increase our donations from the event."
The annual Red Kettle Campaign is a major fundraising effort by The Salvation Army to collect funds to serve those that need material, physical, emotional or spiritual support.
"The Red Kettle campaign provides funds that support our programs throughout the year," explained Major Foreman. "We rely upon the generosity of the community to come forward with their financial donations – it's what makes our ministry to the less fortunate possible."
In addition to financial contributions, The Salvation Army seeks volunteers who would like to ring a bell at an area kettle this Christmas season. To sign up to volunteer at a kettle, or to make a donation, please visit helpringbells.com today.
As the 2009 Red Kettle Campaign gets fully under way, The Salvation Army extends thanks to all those who contribute to the kettles, all those who volunteer time at the kettles, and our retail partners, including Kroger, Wal-Mart and others, that generously provide locations for kettle placement. The Salvation Army also extends its thanks to the Brown family and the Bengals organization for their continued support of the annual Kettle Kickoff event.
About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 33 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. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 9,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to salvationarmycincinnati.org
