Salvation Army volunteer Evelyn Higgins leads the Colts out on the field to meet the Titans at Lucas Oil, Jan. 2, 2010.

It comes around each December – one of our biggest fundraisers. Radiothon. During this fast-paced, fun-filled weekend of radio chatter and hourly surprises, listeners call-in to pledge their support. This year’s gig was sponsored by the Colts, thus many of the prize packages included game tickets, autographed helmets/balls, and such. One deserving hourly winner was none other than longtime Salvation Army volunteer Evelyn Higgins.

Evelyn scored big with the chance to not only take 3 others with her to Sunday’s Colts vs. Titans game, but to actually ride along on the Lucas Oil motorcycle to lead the team out on the field. She was in church when she got the call from Salvation Army employee, Georgette Winkel, saying that she had won the package. By the time she left church that day, she’d already had several offers to buy the prize from her.

To say that Evelyn deserved this prize is an understatement. She has been a loyal and generous volunteer for 14 years, helping with everything from Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) to bell ringing. She started with Coats for Kids when her service sorority, Sigma Phi Gamma International was looking for service projects. She was hooked and has been volunteering ever since. Evelyn is also one of the original Doughnut Girls for The Salvation Army which attends various military related events to promote awareness of the service of these ladies during wartime by serving coffee and doughnuts to veterans. She gladly offers her time with every programs and event the Army holds. It seems fitting that she would be given a special ride onto the field, as a leader to victory.  “The whole experience was great and all the Colts personnel were terrific. Mr. Matt Godbout met us inside the stadium about an hour before kickoff, took us down to the field level and we got to watch the Colts go through some pre-game drills. Then I got into the motorcycle sidecar and was given a t-shirt and towel. I waved the towel as we led the team onto the field and that was an awesome experience. And to top off the day, the Colts won the game, the AFC South title, and a home game for the playoffs!”

Evelyn says she enjoys working with kids and the military, so she expects to continue volunteering with “the organization that Does the Most Good.”

If you’d like to know more about opportunities to volunteer with us, please contact Elizabeth Wilhelm at (317)224-1010.

Big Joe Staysniak, co-chair of this year's WIBC Radiothon, was in studio as the 58 hour event wrapped up.

The 16th Annual WIBC Radiothon to benefit The Salvation Army wrapped up on Sunday after 58 hours of programing which encouraged listeners to pledge their support. At the end, $141,164 was raised at the event.

This year’s final total was a little behind last year’s, but it still translates to more than 31,000 meals and more than 1,500 safe nights of shelter for those in need in our community. Of course The Salvation Army would not be able to provide these needs without the generosity of everyone who called in and made a pledge. Thank you!

We also need to thank all of our sponsors: J. Wickham Consulting – Title Sponsor, Val Pak Reach – Phone Bank Sponsor, and Markey’s Rental and Staging – our Toteboard Sponsor. Also, a big thank you to our hourly sponsors: Perkins Nichols Media, Finance Center Federal Credit Union, Planned Investment, Dellen Automotive, Hurst Beans, Central Indiana Roofing and Restoration, Jocham Harden Dimicck Jackson, Northwest Kiwanis, The Mutual Fund Store, Klipsch Audio Technologies, One America, Wilson Kehoe Winningham, Ruth’s Chris, Walmart, Cartridge, Specialist Inc. Firestone, Drug and Opiate Recovery Network, and Seamless Restoration.

This year’s Radiothon Co-Chairs were Big Joe Staysniak of 1070 theFan and WIBC, and Tom Zupncic VP of Marketing of the Indianapolis Colts. Zup was able to get some great prizes this year including an autographed Peyton Manning helmet, autographed Peyton Manning football, Dwight Freeny and Reggie Wayne autographed footballs, game tickets and on lucky donor will get to lead the team out of the tunnel on the Lucas Oil Motorcycle a the January 2 Colts vs. Titans game. Our thanks to Zup and big Joe for all of their help.

Last but certainly not least, we need to thank our long time partner and friends, WIBC. For 16 years now they’ve given us hours of air-time and dedicated support to the ministries and programs of The Salvation Army. Because of your love for this community, we can again serve those who hurting.

Thank you to all for a great Radiothon and we will see you next year!

We appreciate WCT’s generosity and support as we set our sights on having enough pledges to provide 50,000 meals and 2,500 safe nights of shelter for Hoosiers in 2011. And by Sunday lunch, our volunteers will have put in dozens of hours to help out their neighbors in need.

Thanks to all of our generous meal sponsors for helping out this year. Know of an area restaurant or bakery that would be willing to provide breakfast either Friday, Saturday or Sunday of Radiothon (12/3-5)? If you do, have them call Kristen at 224-1019.

Got an idea for a prize package? Give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

Markey’s makes sponsoring look easy, don’t they? We’d love to include your business in this year’s Radiothon. To sponsor an hour or donate items for prize packages, give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

Thanks, IU Sports Properties for your support. And, go Hoosiers!

My name is Donna. My life has been saved! This is a literal statement because the abuse from my husband had progressed to the point where he was going to kill me. And even worse than that he would have done so in front of my three children. He had never abused the children before, but the signs were all present and I knew it was just a matter of time before he started on them too.

People say, “Leave him! Go!” But where do you go? There was nowhere in the area to go, no shelters. How are you supposed to get out safely? And if you have children it becomes even more complicated. You leave on the spur of the moment whenever the opportunity becomes available to you.

Then you find out all of the shelters are full, no rooms available. I left home in the middle of the night with my three children with very few personal belongings. Who was there for us? The Salvation Army was there.

They had a room for us. In the middle of the night at 11:00pm they were there. My kids and I were finally safe. They first provided us with food, clothing, personal hygene items. After that they provided us with spiritual encouragement and hope. We stayed at The Salvation Army for several months until I was able to save up money for a safe apartment away from my abusive husband.

Currently I am still not at a place where I can give back, but when I am I will give generously so that The Salvation Army can be there for someone else in need. Thank you and God Bless.

Donna is a REAL woman whose REAL life was saved because she found refuge at our downtown shelter. Shelter that was available because people like you support our mission. The WIBC Radiothon isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s our best, most effective way to share stories like Donna’s with our community so we can gather enough support to keep those doors open.

Our goal this year is to raise enough support through Radiothon to provide 50,000 meals and 2,500 nights of shelter to Hoosiers in need in 2011. If you’d like to help, give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

(Names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the client.  Donna* is currently enrolled in our Continuing Support Program and she continues contact with her case manager once a week.)

We still have several meals left available for sponsorship. So, if you’d like to help provide a meal for about 50 or so volunteers, we’d love to speak with you! Give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

The Salvation Army is serious about using your donations to change lives. In fact, about 85 cents of every dollar you donate goes straight into programs that help your neighbors in need with food, shelter and financial assistance. With only about 15 cents left to cover all of our operations, we rely on our community to help us with expenses for events like this. And Hoosier business partners have always taken on that challenge.  Thanks to GFS Marketplace, lunch on Saturday, December 4 is covered!

We still have several meals left available for sponsorship, so if you’d like to help provide a meal for about 50 or so volunteers, we’d love to speak with you! Give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

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.”