What’s Angel Tree? Families who request Christmas assistance through The Salvation Army can complete a wishlist of clothing and gift items that are then turned into angel tags. People in the community can then adopt that angel and purchase items on those lists and return the gifts to The Salvation Army for delivery. For thousands of families, this adoption process has become a Christmas giving tradition in their communities. Through the JCPenney partnership, angels can be adopted and shopped for online at their website or through their facebook page.

“In the first year of introducing this program online, nearly 40,000 Angels from across the country were adopted last Christmas,” said Thomas M. Nealon, group executive vice president. “Now, more than ever, customers want to make a difference during the holidays. JCPenney has made it easier for customers to give back in a meaningful way and we feel confident that support for those less fortunate will only continue to grow.”

The online Angel Giving Tree program allows customers to adopt an Angel at jcp.com/angel and request an Angel by location, age range and gender. An Angel who matches the criteria will be e-mailed to the customer along with a list of requested items. Supporters have the convenience and flexibility of purchasing gifts at jcp.com, in JCPenney stores or at any retailer they choose.

With program support from UPS, Angel Giving Tree gifts purchased through jcp.com can be shipped free of charge to the corresponding Salvation Army collection center. The confirmation e-mail will also include a link to drop-off locations in the recipient’s area and ship-to addresses for online orders placed at jcp.com or at other retailers. In order to ensure delivery by Christmas, adoptions and online purchases must be made before Dec. 10. Supporters may also purchase JCPenney Gift Cards through Dec. 14, which will be delivered to Angels so they can buy an item on their wish list. “

“The Salvation Army is preparing for what is expected to be another record number of families seeking help this Christmas,” said Major George Hood, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. “With the need greater than ever, we appreciate JCPenney’s commitment to continue this program so that more children and seniors living in poverty can experience the joy that one small Christmas gift can bring.”

Major Welch and Jeff Stanger accept donation from Mike Jones and Ricker's CEO Jay Ricker

It takes a special kind of CEO to be willing to sacrifice a little pride while challenging his employees to do something good for their neighbors. Jay Ricker is that kind of CEO.

The Salvation Army has been fortunate to partner with Jay Ricker (CEO Ricker Oil, am/pm convenience stores) and his am/pm stores at BP stations across Central Indiana. Leading up to red kettle season, Ricker inspires his employees to talk up donations for the kettles in hopes to become the location to collect the most cash and coins for their neighbors in need. What’s the incentive? How about having your CEO visit your location to pass out free hotdogs to your customers….dressed as a clown!

We joined the celebration at the 52nd and Keystone BP store this afternoon to witness Ricker making good on his promise. Ricker’s team then presented Major Keith Welch and our Development Director, Jeff Stanger with a check for over $13,000 - the amount collected in kettles during the Christmas season and a company matching donation. The Salvation Army will use those funds to continue to offer food, shelter and support services for those in need across Central Indiana.

Thanks to Jay Ricker, Mike Jones and the team at Ricker’s Oil, am/pm, and the participating BP locations as well as all of the generous Hoosiers who donated during the Christmas season!

If your business is interested in partnering with The Salvation Army to continue “Doing the Most Good” right here in our community, contact Kristen Grills at 224-1019 or kristen_grills@usc.salvationarmy.org.

The bike enthusiasts brought with them over 700 toys which will be distributed to children in need during The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree distribution at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in a few weeks. Last year, over 13,000 toys were collected and distributed to families in need through Salvation Army toy programs.

The organizer of the Circle City Toy Run, Ron “Bumber” Herron says that he runs the annual event in honor of his Mother, Dorothy Herron, who was big supporter of The Salvation Army. Captain Marcos Ramirez expressed his gratitude for the generous gift as he spoke to the participants. “Your generosity is going to make a difference in hundreds of children’s lives. You’ve warmed my heart today,” said Captain Ramirez.

You can find out more about The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree and WISHtree programs by visiting IndyWISHTree.org.

 If you’re in downtown Indy this afternoon, you’ll notice it sounds a lot more like Christmas. Today is Celebrity Bell Ringing Day in front of Emmis studios on Monument Circle. Some of our more recognizable friends are giving an hour or more of their time today to ring bells and collect some of the first donations of the season.

So far today, we’ve had the priviledge of ringing with some of the lovely Colts cheerleaders, WISH TV-8 personalities, our WIBC Radiothon Chair (and Pacers’ own) Quinn Buckner, Darth Vadar, Boomer, Trucky and Big-E-Foot. We’ve also had some fun previewing tomorrow’s Turkey Bowling event with GFS Marketplace.

Speaking of turkey bowling, if you’re out and about on the west side tomorrow, stop by the GFS Marketplace on Rockville Road for their Thanksgiving sampling day and Turkey Bowling. We’ll be there and we hope you’ll join us in packing the pantries at our community centers.

We’re already experiencing a nearly 20% increase in requests for assistance for housing and food and the holiday season hasn’t begun.

We spoke with WTHR 13′s Angela Cain on Red Shield Radio this week. We have the priviledge of working with both Angela and with Bob Gregory on the Coats for Kids donation drive each Fall. And we agreed, with more parents struggling to keep and find jobs, the lines will be long at coat distribution day. If you’d like to make sure at least one child has a warm coat this winter, go here to learn more about Coats for Kids. We’re accepting donations now through October 5.

Right after Coats for Kids, we’ll kick off our Christmas season at our Tree of Lights Kick-off right here on the lawn of our headquarters on November 19. Our goal is $3 million this year and we’ll need everyone to dig deep and find it in their hearts and wallets to help those who are struggling to provide shelter and necessities for their families. The next day, we’ll begin the bellringing season at Celebrity Bell Ringing on Monument Circle. This is a perfect time to meet a favorite local celebrity and spare a few coins.

Then Radiothon is just around the corner on December 11-13. Join our 2008/2009 Radiothon Chair, Quinn Buckner of the Indiana Pacers as we support our programs for men, women and children right here in our city! We have opportunities for  hourly sponsors and volunteers to work in the phone bank. It’s a 55-hour Marathon of Giving, and our biggest fundraising event of the year.

And immediately following Radiothon is our Toy Shop at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. This is the week that all the toys from our seasonal toy drive will be distributed to families in need. To learn more about participating as a collection site, a set-up volunteer or as an event day volunteer, go here.

We can’t meet this kind of need without our volunteers. If you’re interested in ringing a bell, hosting a coat or toy collection drive, or participating in Radiothon, there are lots of ways to give of your dollars and your time. Please give Elizabeth a call at 224-1010.

You’re among the first to know – we’ve exceeded our goal for the Tree of Lights campaign! (and we couldn’t have done it without you!)

In the face of a recession, lay-offs and home foreclosures, Hoosiers dug deep to help those less fortunate than themselves. You sponsored hours and called in your pledges during our WIBC Radiothon and helped raise over $223,000 in three days! You sent your support in response to direct mail and donated online. And no Tree of Lights campaign would be complete without our famous red kettles. Of the more than $2.77 million that’s been raised during this year’s campaign, over $789,000 was collected at the 140 Red Kettle locations throughout central Indiana.  So, thanks to all of you who allowed our bellringers to ring outside your stores and offices. Your participation is so vital to the success of the campaign!

So whether you gave $1 or $1,000, you were part of our own Christmas miracle. Through your support, we will continue to offer shelter and support to the homeless and abuse, a safe place for children through our after-school programs, compassion to our community’s seniors and hope and rehabilitation to the addicted. On behalf of the men, women and children we serve every day of the year, THANK YOU!

Well, that’s a good question. These goals seem like an awful lot of money to the average person tuning into a nightly newscast.  When an organization raises $2.75 million, the community SHOULD wonder (and get an answer to the question) where does the money go?

Well, in 2008, our partners (like you) made it possible for The Salvation Army to…

- serve 66,392 people by providing shelter and care

- provide 192,937 meals

- give winter coats to over 4,000 kids through Coats for Kids

- play Santa to 900 families through the annual Angel Tree collection & Toy Shop

- assist 1,286 people with substance abuse care

- sent 546 at-risk kids to summer camps

- ship 6,957 care packages to our troops through Operation Compassion

- provide $2.5 million in assistance, over 10,000 meals & 4,000 flood kits to Indiana flood victims

“Doing the Most Good” isn’t just a slogan for The Salvation Army. We’re serious about using the dollars you’ve entrusted to us to do the most we can do to make a difference in the lives of the men, women and children who come to us for help. And it’s not too late to help us meet our Tree of Lights goal for 2009. Just go here. Thanks for your support and continued partnership!

So, if you’re looking for a place to take in a game or just enjoy some excellent game food (the blackened chicken quesadillas were amazing!), stop by Blue Crew. And make sure to let them know that you appreciate their partnership with The Salvation Army!

With about three weeks left in the Tree of Lights campaign, we’re about 85% of the way to our goal. Want to help make a difference in the lives of those struggling right here in our community? Donate on-line or give Kristen a call at 224-1019 to discuss an event or partnership opportunity.

And that has a ripple effect for the Tree of Lights campaign as well. Bell ringing efforts account for 25% of the total fundraising campaign. So, for at least another week about 20 kettles will remain in their current locations across the city to help raise the more than $600,000 still needed to break even with last year’s goal. 

But it’s not just a goal that we’re striving to reach. Our goal represents real people in our city – your neighbors – who are struggling to provide a home and basic necessities for their families. If you have the means, please stop by a kettle or make an on-line donation today. Every dollar makes a difference.

You see, whether its outside your local Walmart or online, when you ring a bell for The Salvation Army, you’re not just reading about how families are hurting in this economy, you’re doing something about it – and it’s not too late to join us.

If you’d like to ring a bell during this weekend’s 14th annual WIBC Radiothon or through Christmas Eve at a local business partner, give Elizabeth a call at 224-1010. Or stay toasty inside and invite friends and family to donate to your online red kettle.

And if you’re downtown on Monument Circle (or you drive around it), the fine folks at Emmis Communications are hosting a kettle outside their studios all week leading up to the WIBC Radiothon. (And they’ve invited all their friends to ring with them.) I had the pleasure of joining Indiana’s First Lady, Cheri Daniels and HANK fm’s Wank and O’Brien yesterday morning. At day’s end, they’d collected nearly $400 for our neighbors in need! Believe us, your dollars and change add up.

The need is great this season, but we know that Hoosier generosity is greater! Thanks for your continued support. If you’d like to find a way to involve your group or business in the Christmas campaign, give me (Kristen) a call at 224-1019.