Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Kicks Off with Music Superstar Kenny Chesney at Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Game

Nation's Longest Running Fundraiser Celebrates 122nd Year and Seeks to Raise Donations for Communities Rebuilding After Hurricane Sandy

News provided by

The Salvation Army

Nov 21, 2012, 05:27 ET

ARLINGTON, Texas, Nov. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Four-time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, Kenny Chesney, will kick-off The Salvation Army's 122^nd annual Red Kettle Campaign with a LIVE performance at Cowboys Stadium during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the Washington Redskins at 3:15PM (CT) on FOX. The nationally televised show marks the 16^th year the Dallas Cowboys have helped The Salvation Army launch the campaign, which began on a San Francisco pier in 1891. Kenny's performance will help raise awareness and millions of dollars for the Red Kettle Campaign, which collected a record $147.6 million last year. Funds will support people in need, including those still experiencing the lasting impact of Hurricane Sandy this Christmas season.

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"This is a time of year when many people are in need of a helping hand. I'm excited to partner with The Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys to encourage the American people to help the less fortunate," said Kenny Chesney. "I hope my music will elevate awareness for the Red Kettle Campaign, and in the end, help provide a warm meal, clothing or a bed for someone this holiday season."

Kenny will perform a number of his top hits from past albums, as well as his most recent studio album, Welcome to the Fishbowl, which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart. Since its release in June 2012, Welcome to the Fishbowl has been certified gold and includes the hit singles "Feel Like a Rock Star," "Come Over," and current hit "El Cerrito Place." Throughout his nearly 20-year career, Kenny has sold more than 27 million albums and had 24 #1 singles.

Since the partnership between the Dallas Cowboys and The Salvation Army began in 1997, the Red Kettle Campaign has raised more than $1.5 billion with the help of multiple top-tier musical acts spanning the past 15 years. Previous halftime performers have included: Enrique Iglesias, Keith Urban, Daughtry, Jonas Brothers, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny's Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Creed, Jessica Simpson, Billy Gillman, Clint Black, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.

Additionally, the Cowboys, The Salvation Army and Kenny Chesney will celebrate youth football by bringing 350 youth football players on the field as a part of the halftime show. The Cowboys will also highlight notable youth football videos as part of the "Boys of Fall" contest. Numerous families from across the country submitted short videos featuring youth football highlights, and selected videos will be featured during Kenny Chesney's halftime performance on Thanksgiving Day on the stage and stadium's video board. With nearly 2,000 votes, Mike Markham's video of his son Garrett playing for the Banks Warriors 8th Grade Junior High team in Banks, OR won the grand-prize – four game tickets to the Thanksgiving Day game between the Cowboys and the Washington Redskins. Highlight videos can be viewed at www.youtube.com/user/SalvationArmyUSA.

"Something special happens when the Dallas Cowboys and The Salvation Army come together for the Red Kettle Campaign on Thanksgiving Day – people are driven to give and help their neighbors," said Charlotte Jones Anderson, Executive Vice President of Brand Management for the Dallas Cowboys and National Advisory Chairperson for The Salvation Army. "A marquee performance by a star like Kenny Chesney will reach millions of people and hopefully encourage giving this Christmas. We know from experience that The Salvation Army will stretch donations as far as possible to help as many people as possible."

The Salvation Army continues to provide disaster relief services to families and individuals who are rebuilding from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey. Since late October, The Salvation Army has provided food, hydration, clothing, financial assistance, and other supplies to hundreds of thousands of people. These services and others by The Salvation Army will continue throughout the holiday season and into the New Year until all the need created by Hurricane Sandy is met. Donations made to the Red Kettle Campaign stay in the local community, and any donations made in the impacted areas of New York and New Jersey will help benefit the recovering communities.

"The Red Kettle Campaign this year will help not only those who need The Salvation Army's assistance day-to-day, but also those who are still recovering from Superstorm Sandy," said Commissioner William Roberts, National Commander for The Salvation Army. "This is the time of year we need to lend a helping hand to our neighbors, and help them up in His name. We extend a big thanks to the Jones Family and the Dallas Cowboys, as well as Kenny Chesney for helping make this Thanksgiving so special."

The 2012 Red Kettle Campaign will bring The Salvation Army's iconic kettles and 25,000 bell ringers to street corners and storefronts nationwide through December 24. Notably, national corporate partners hosting Salvation Army red kettles at their stores through Christmas Eve include Walmart, Macy's, jcpenney, Kroger, Sam's Club, Bloomingdales, Walgreens and Big Lots.

Supporters of The Salvation Army can also ring a virtual Red Kettle bell online at www.onlineredkettle.org, donate by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or text the word "GIVE" to 80888 to make a $10 donation to the Red Kettle Campaign. More information on the Red Kettle Campaign is available online at www.salvationarmyusa.org.

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 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 The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

About Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney, "one of country music's most triumphant...superstars" (NY Times) has had 24 #1 singles, ten platinum albums, and over 27 million albums sold. The release of his thirteenth album 'Welcome To The Fishbowl' this summer coincided with the blockbuster, 22-stadium 'Brothers of the Sun' Tour, with Chesney and Tim McGraw, which marked the 10th year that more than one million fans came out to celebrate music and summer with Chesney. Chesney is a CMT and AMA Artist of the Year, a four-time CMA Entertainment of the Year, and a four-time ACM Entertainer of the Year.

About Gene & Jerry Jones Family Charities

In the area of community service, Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities' mission is built upon an overall 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 very strong obligation to transfer that championship tradition and the magic that it creates toward the bigger purpose of making a difference in the community. More information about the Dallas Cowboys is available at www.DallasCowboys.com.

SOURCE The Salvation Army