Eric Church to Kick Off 126th Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign with LIVE Halftime Performance During Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Game

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Donations help provide meals and shelter for families and Christmas toys for millions of children, in addition to numerous other social service programs The Salvation Army provides year-round, such as substance-abuse programs, shelter and counseling for victims of domestic violence, and military veteran assistance.

"Eric Church is not only one of the hottest names in country music, but he has a passion [for] giving to those in need, making him a great fit for what Red Kettle Kickoff is all about," said Charlotte Jones Anderson, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Cowboys and former national advisory chairperson for The Salvation Army. "Millions are impacted every year by the good works of The Salvation Army, and our goal is to help educate Americans that every penny dropped in those red kettles helps make a difference."

The Red Kettle Campaign, which begins on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas Eve, is the largest and longest-running fundraiser of its kind. It raised $149.6 million during the 2015 campaign alone and has raised more than $2 billion since the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day partnership began in 1997. 

"The visibility and true partnership the Dallas Cowboys have extended to our organization for the past 20 years to mark our most crucial fundraising season is something The Salvation Army is extremely grateful for," said Lt. Col. Ron Busroe, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. "We are looking forward to their continued support and another exciting kickoff performance."

As the recent Country Music Association Album of the Year winner for his latest release "Mr. Misunderstood," Church has garnered GRAMMY, CMA, and Academy of Country Music Album of the Year nominations since releasing his first album, "Sinners Like Me," in 2006. He is a four-time CMA and five-time ACM award winner and has quickly become one of the biggest names in country music. He is currently gearing up for his "Holdin' My Own" headlining tour beginning in January.

The Red Kettle Kickoff halftime show has been nationally televised for all of its 20 years, reaching millions of viewers with the campaign's message. Church is the newest addition to a list of Red Kettle Kickoff celebrity halftime performers, including Luke Bryan, Selena Gomez, Kenny Chesney, Kelly Clarkson, Destiny's Child, Randy Travis, and Reba McEntire.

In addition to donating to the 25,000 traditional bell ringers that will be stationed at retail locations throughout the country or online at RedKettleReason.org, supporters can start their own #RedKettleReason fundraisers and designate their contributions to cause areas that fight hunger, provide shelter, or ensure Christmas assistance for those in need. Donations can also be made through the Army's text-to-give program. By texting the word "KETTLES" to 51555, donors can send any amount to the Red Kettle Campaign.  

From its humble beginnings as a Salvation Army captain's start-up program in 1891 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.

About Eric Church
The four-time Country Music Association and five-time Academy of Country Music Award winner cemented his reputation as a maverick by releasing his 2015 album "Mr. Misunderstood" as a surprise, delivering it to fans before announcing its existence and putting it on sale. He is rising toward the peak of the country charts with "Record Year," the second single, which Rolling Stone dubbed "the most moving moment" on the widely lauded album.

Church announced his 60+ city 2017 "Holdin' My Own Tour" via Facebook Live at a two-night show at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo. The tour, that kicks off in Lincoln, Neb. and ends with a two-night run in Nashville, Tenn.,  will feature two sets from Church sans openers.   

The man New York Times said produces songs that insist music is "fuel for love, for anguish and, naturally, for other music" earned the 2016 CMA Album of the Year Award for "Mr. Misunderstood" and the 2016 ACM Music Video of the Year Award for the album's first title-track single. 

The North Carolina native's previous album, "The Outsiders," debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and Top Country Albums Chart with the highest debut and sales of any release in the format that year, making Church 2014's top-selling country music artist. The album garnered GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Album of the Year nominations and featured his No. 1 hits "Give Me Back My Hometown" and "Talladega," as well as multiple nominee "Like A Wrecking Ball." "The Outsiders" was the follow-up to Church's 3x Platinum-certified "CHIEF," named the 2012 Album of the Year by both CMA and ACM, and GRAMMY-nominated for Best Country Album. The LP featured five Top 20 singles: "Homeboy" (certified Platinum for sales in excess of one million); the Top 10 "Like Jesus Does" and the Top 5 "Creepin'" (both certified Platinum); and two No. 1 hits "Drink in My Hand" (certified Platinum) and "Springsteen" (certified Double Platinum for sales in excess of 2 million singles).  Church's sophomore album, "Carolina," (2009) is RIAA Platinum certified and his 2006 debut album, "Sinners Like Me" is RIAA Gold certified.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. More than 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. Eighty-two cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army are used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, go to salvationarmyusa.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.

About Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities
In the area of community service, the mission of the Dallas Cowboys and the Jones Family Foundation's mission is built upon on an overall philosophy of helping those who don't have the strength, the resources, or the means to help themselves, with a primary focus on a partnership with The Salvation Army. With the Cowboys organization having enjoyed immense and unprecedented success, the Jones Family feels a very strong obligation to take the visibility, energy, and celebrity of one of the world's most powerful sports franchises and channel those dynamic forces toward the bigger purpose of making a difference. Recognized as one of the world's most generous families, the Joneses enlist the talents, skills, and resources of all the Cowboys players, coaches, cheerleaders, and every member of the organization to provide a unique and cutting- edge approach to community outreach. More information about the Dallas Cowboys and the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation can be found on at http://www.dallascowboys.com/.

For more information about The Salvation Army and the Red Kettle Kickoff, please visit blog.salvationarmyusa.org, facebook.com/SalvationArmyUSA or twitter.com/salvationarmyus.

SOURCE The Salvation Army