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.

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.”

We’ll let you pay in installments! Really? Yes, really! With a goal of 50,000 meals and 2,500 nights of shelter for Hoosiers in need, we need all the help we can get. YOUR help. Give me (Kristen) a call at 224-1019 and let’s talk ’10 easy payments’ today!

Three-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban will be the featured performer at The Salvation Army’s Kettle Kickoff at halftime of the nationally televised Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game on November 25, 2010. Charlotte Jones Anderson, Executive Vice President Brand Management/ President of Charities for the Dallas Cowboys, made the announcement on ESPN’s Monday Night Football this evening.

As part of the Kettle Kickoff promotion, fans will have a chance to win an expense-paid trip to the game in Dallas versus the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints by signing up to be an Online Red Kettle virtual bell ringer at OnlineRedKettle.org. The game will air on FOX starting at 3:15 p.m. CST.

Keith Urban’s halftime show will mark the 14th year that the Dallas Cowboys and The Salvation Army have partnered together to raise money for people in need in communities across the country. During the Thanksgiving Day performance Urban is expected to play a number of his top hits, including his latest single “Put You in a Song” from his forthcoming CD Get Closer (in stores on November 16th). “I’m really honored to be a part of this great tradition and great partnership between the Dallas Cowboys and the Salvation Army,” said Urban. “It’s gonna be amazing playing in Cowboys Stadium in that environment at half time of the Thanksgiving game!”

As part of this year’s Kettle Kickoff, two fans will have the chance to win a trip to Dallas to see the game, by signing up to host an Online Red Kettle at www.OnlineRedKettle.org. The contest is free to enter and allows participants to work as a virtual bell ringer, recruiting friends, family and colleagues to support people in need across America by donating online. Fans who collect the most donations have a chance to win. Fans can sign up beginning October 25, 2010 and winners will be alerted on November 21, 2010. Complete rules and contest details are available online at OnlineRedKettle.org.

“This year, Keith Urban, one of the most popular music artists in the world, will kick-off the Red Kettle Campaign in style and we couldn’t be happier,” said Charlotte Jones Anderson, recently announced as the new Chairperson of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board. “We know Keith’s drive to share his voice with others, will connect with and encourage the American public to give generously and support the important work being done by The Salvation Army.”

Over the last 13 years, the nationally televised halftime performance has become an annual Thanksgiving tradition for fans in attendance and viewers at home. The Red Kettle campaign has raised more than $1.3 billion since the partnership began in 1997 and has helped The Salvation Army to serve 30 million people each year nationwide. Last year, the red kettles raised a record $139 million. Previous celebrity halftime performers include 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.

“The partnership between The Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys is one that comes from the heart of the Jones family as part of their commitment to help  those in need during Christmas and year-round,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army. “Every year the opportunity for Salvation Army beneficiaries grows thanks to this great relationship, as well as the support of great musical talent like Keith Urban, allowing the Army to provide food, utility assistance, adult rehabilitation from alcohol and drug addiction, disaster relief and other services to nearly 30 million individuals in more than 5,000 communities nationwide every year.”

From its original beginnings as a fundraiser 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. As part of the campaign, more than 25,000 Salvation Army workers and volunteers spread throughout the country to ring bells daily and solicit spare change donations to the iconic red kettles from holiday shoppers. In 2009, the campaign raised more than $139 million nationwide, a new record supported by the public’s  nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars, credit cards (and the occasional diamond ring or gold tooth) all collected and used to help people in the communities where they were raised. Last year, the funds helped The Salvation Army provide food, clothing, toys and other assistance to nearly 30 million Americans in need.

In addition to physical kettles, donors can contribute online at SalvationArmyUSA.org or through a virtual red kettle on any number of corporate or individual websites and Facebook pages.

Locally, our donations were down nearly $300,000 for 2009-10. That’s about 10 percent of last year’s Christmas fundraising goal! Ironically, we’ve seen a spike in requests for financial assistance for rent and utilities and for food. In fact, we’ve served about 4,000 more of our neighbors in need in spite of bringing in less funds. How’d we do it? Cash reserves. The Salvation Army is pretty financially savvy when it comes to endowments and savings. Thankfully, when that rainy day came this year, we had the resources to continue to serve, and serve more, without tightening the belt too much. That won’t be the case in months to come.

We’re gearing up for our Christmas season and it looks like it’s going to be a busy one. We’re really hustling to gather enough coats to meet our community’s needs at our Coats for Kids distribution on October 30. The final days of collecting are upon us. If you haven’t had a chance to swing by a Tuchman Cleaners and drop off those coats, now’s the time. And you can always donate towards a new coat at on our secure website.

It’s also the perfect time to start thinking about our 16th annual WIBC Radiothon coming up on December 3-5. We’re looking for 32 businesses to become hourly sponsors and set the foundation of giving for listeners to call in and pledge. There are lots of ways to put your company’s dollars to work for your community. Check out our event website and find out how you can join Indianapolis Colts’ Tom Zupancic and 93 WIBC/1070 ESPN’s ‘Big’ Joe Staysniak in supporting The Salvation Army’s life-changing programs right here in Central Indiana.

We’ve proved that The Salvation Army is “doing the most good” with less, can you help us do even more? Call Kristen at 224-1019 to find out how.

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.

Thanks so much to all of our hourly and in-kind sponsors – to Emmis Communications and the amazing men and women who produced the -athon, the programmers, the personalities, just everyone who’s made it easy to call Emmis’ lobby home for the past 55 hours. We would not be able to do what we’ve done without their dedication and enthusiasm.

And here are the teary thanks, so buckle up – Thanks to our Radiothon Chair, Quinn Buckner and the Indiana Pacers. You set the tone for giving before the event went on the air! Thanks to Walmart for that incredible demonstration of support! Not only did your $100,000 bump that total, but it went a LONG way in encouraging our listeners to step up and make the calls. Thanks to our Phone Bank sponsor, ValPak and REACH magazine for your generosity and the manpower to keep those calls a’comin. And we can’t forget the folks at Markey’s Rental and Staging for the donation of our big screens – the tote boards are so vital in communicating with our phone bank and with the studio.

On behalf of all of the men, women and children we serve, THANK YOU for your support! This weekend, you’ve truly made a difference right here in Indiana!

Indy Moms Like Me is a social networking group here in Indy where moms can come together and discuss all things “mom” – from parenting to support groups to volunteer opportunities and recipes.

Are you an Indy Mom? (If not, you can join here) If you are, join The Salvation Army group and encourage others to join us on Monument Circle on Saturday, December 12 to ring bells at the kettles and bring a toy down to donate for Angel Tree.