The Salvation Army Names Finalists for Red Kettle Reason Giving Spree Contest

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Salvation Army named five finalist entries for The Salvation Army's first ever Giving Spree contest, which seeks to highlight the social service organization's Red Kettle Reason initiative. For several weeks, participants from across the country have uploaded videos to Twitter sharing their #RedKettleReason using the hashtag #GivingSpreeSweeps for a chance to win a paid trip to New York City to shop for toys and necessities for their local Salvation Army children's program. The finalist selection comes on Giving Tuesday, an annual call for charitable giving nationwide.

Actor, producer, musician, and Salvation Army supporter, Nick Cannon, helped announce the contest and will join the winner for the shopping event.

"The holiday season is a great time to reflect on what really matters, like being thankful for what you have and lending a helping hand to those who need it most," said Nick Cannon. "The finalists for The Salvation Army Giving Spree contest have inspiring messages to share and show the true meaning of the season."

To see all of the finalists' videos and vote for the winner, visit RedKettleReason.org.

"#RedKettleReason has really given people a platform to come together and share all of the reasons they give, and with this year's Giving Spree, we're helping make one of those reasons a reality," said Lt. Colonel Ron Busroe, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. "My hope is that these finalists will inspire others to find a way to give back to their communities through The Salvation Army on Giving Tuesday, during the Red Kettle Campaign and all year long."

To give back on this impactful day, donors can contribute to the Red Kettle campaign at one of the more than 25,000 red kettles set up at storefronts nationwide; share their #RedKettleReason and give back online at RedKettleReason.org or through the Army's text-to-give program; or by texting the word "KETTLE" to 80888, they can send $10 to the Red Kettle Campaign.

During the holidays, 3.3 million people rely on The Salvation Army to provide their families with a warm meal or toys for children on Christmas Day. In addition to the help provided during the holiday season, donations made to the red kettles help the Army provide more than 10 million nights of shelter; nearly 57 million meals; and programming such as substance abuse recovery, after-school programs, and emergency shelter for children and families in need year-round. In all, The Salvation Army is able to help nearly 30 million people each year, thanks in large part to people's generous donations.

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. More than 25,000 Salvation Army volunteers throughout the country ring bells and solicit donations to the red kettles.

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. Approximately 30 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 to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army is 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.

SOURCE The Salvation Army

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