Multi-Platinum Recording Artist Selena Gomez Celebrates Kick Off of 123rd Annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign During Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Game

ARLINGTON, Texas, Nov. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Multi-platinum recording artist Selena Gomez will take the stage today for a LIVE performance to kickoff The Salvation Army's 123rd National Red Kettle Campaign at AT&T Stadium during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys vs. Oakland Raiders nationally televised game on CBS. For the past 17 years, the Dallas Cowboys have helped The Salvation Army launch the campaign during its nationally televised halftime performances. The Red Kettle Campaign raised more than $148.7 million last year to serve America's most vulnerable by providing food, shelter and more than 1 million toys for children during the holidays.

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"It is such an honor to perform in my hometown today and build awareness for the Red Kettle Campaign," said Gomez. "By dropping change in the kettles, you are changing a child's life. The Salvation Army uses those nickels, dimes and quarters to provide after school programs, summer camps and toys for children during the holidays, and all in the community where they were donated."

The LIVE performance will mobilize a new generation of Salvation Army supporters and build awareness of the organization and Red Kettle Campaign with a younger and influential audience. Selena will be performing three songs from her new album "Stars Dance."

Since the partnership began in 1997, the Dallas Cowboys organization has helped raise more than $1.75 billion for The Salvation Army. Past performers include 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.  

"Selena is a triple threat and we cannot wait to share her incredible performance with the nation. To have her help us bring greater visibility to the Red Kettle Kickoff and The Salvation Army is a great gift this holiday," said Charlotte Jones Anderson, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys.  Anderson also serves as Chairman of The Salvation Army's National Advisory Board alongside fellow board members, Gene and Jerry Jones. "The Salvation Army is an organization close to my heart, and this time of year allows us to really put a spotlight on all of the ways it serves more than 30 million of America's most vulnerable throughout the year."

The Red Kettle Kickoff is just the beginning of an exciting Christmas season for The Salvation Army. In addition to the more than 25,000 Red Kettles being stationed in storefronts and street corners nationwide, there will be other ways for the public to get involved.

• Giving Tuesday: Tuesday, December 3, The Salvation Army will start the clock on the Third Annual World Record Bell Ringer Contest with contestants aiming to beat the record of 80 hours of constant bell ringing. Various television news and entertainment programs will feature bell ringers, Salvation Army and celebrity spokespeople.
• Rock the Red Kettle Concert: Saturday, December 7, Austin Mahone and other artists will take the stage at Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles for the fourth annual free Rock the Red Kettle Concert.  A live stream of the concert will also be available on The Salvaton Army's Tumblr page – salvationarmyusa.tumblr.com.
• Walmart Fill the Truck Toy: On three consecutive weekends, from November 29 through December 15, more than 3,000 participating stores across the country will be collecting toys for children this holiday.
• Online Red Kettle: Throughout the season, Americans can become virtual bell ringers by starting their own Online Red Kettle at onlineredkettle.org.
• Text-to-Give: And for the mobile donor, it's easy to give $10 by texting the word "KETTLE" to 80888 and replying "YES."*
• Volunteer: For additional ways to volunteer and give back, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org to find a local corps.

From its humble beginnings as a program 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. 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 Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez has become one of the most accomplished actors and recording artists today and all by the age of twenty-one. 2013 has been a big year for Selena. In July, she released her fourth album "Stars Dance" which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts.  The lead single "Come and Get It" became her first number one single and won an MTV Video Music Award for "Best Pop Video." On the heels of the release of her album, Gomez launched her very successful "Stars Dance World Tour" which is currently scheduled to conclude later this month. She has sold over 10 million singles in the US and has become a fixture on the dance scene garnering six singles that have landed at number one position on the Billboard Dance Club/Play charts. 

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church 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. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: 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 The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

About Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities
In the area of community service, Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities' mission is built on a philosophy of helping those who don't have the strength, the resources or the means to help themselves. As a sports entity that has enjoyed unprecedented success and recognition for more than four decades, the Dallas Cowboys feel a strong obligation to transfer that championship tradition and the magic that it creates to the bigger purpose of making a difference in the community. More information about the Dallas Cowboys is available at www.dallascowboys.com.

For additional information about The Salvation Army and Red Kettle Kick-Off, please visit http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org, www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyUSA or https://twitter.com/salvationarmyus.  

*A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message and data rates may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. By participating, you certify that you are 18 years or older and/or have parental permission. Donations are collected for The Salvation Army and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy policy: igfn.org/p. **Text STOP to 80888 to stop; Text HELP to 80888 for help.**

SOURCE The Salvation Army

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