The Salvation Army (TSA) had a record-breaking holiday season, with its trademark Red Kettle campaign raising $147.6 million, a 3.4 percent increase from 2010. It was more than bell-ringers. TSA incorporated new technologies at kettles and online. It also hosted national events to inspire giving.

The event is in its 120th year, beginning on the wharf in San Francisco in 1891. “In troubling times, we are truly grateful for the generosity of the American donor to support the traditions of the campaign and help The Salvation Army carry on its mission,” said Commissioner William Roberts, national commander of TSA. “We have been working to expand the Red Kettle Campaign to reach new and young donors.”

In keeping with tradition, the Dallas Cowboys helped TSA launch the campaign by hosting the 15th annual National Red Kettle Campaign Kickoff at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Grammy Award winning singer Enrique Iglesias performed LIVE, with special guest Pitbull, on a nationally televised stage on Thanksgiving Day. It was seen by more than 31 million Americans.

TSA, in partnership with Sky Blue Group, Swift Entertainment and Universal Studios CityWalk, also hosted the second annual “Rock the Red Kettle Concert” on December 17 to encourage young Americans to support charitable causes. With host Mario Lopez of “Extra,” popular, Grammy-winning and platinum-selling recording artists such as Honor Society, Greyson Chance, Hanson, Colbie Caillat, Cody Simpson, and Drake Bell performed at Universal Studios CityWalk’s “5 Towers” concert venue in Hollywood. World-renowned actor and recording artist Robert Davi made a guest appearance at the concert, following the release of his re-imagined version of the Christmas classic, “Mistletoe and Holly.” Proceeds from the song’s sales supported the Red Kettle Campaign.

Salvation Army bell-ringers manned red kettles at storefronts and in shopping malls nationwide. Corporate partners Walmart and Sam’s Club, who have been a partner with the Army for nearly 30 years, hosted kettles at store and club locations, collecting $41.5 million and $5 million respectively, or 32 percent of this year’s total. The Walmart Foundation also made a donation of $1 million as part of its effort to support hunger relief in America.

Sam’s Club and The Salvation Army also partnered with Off the Field, a professional football players’ wives association, to host the fifth annual Dream Drive on December 8. Some 20 pre-selected families from The Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family program in 10 cities received $1,000 in gifts, including food, clothes and toys from Sam’s Club for a total donation of $200,000.

More than 2,100 Kroger store locations across the country hosted kettles, raising $13.1 million, or 9 percent of the campaign total. Donations at nearly 600 Big Lots stores raised $1.4 million for the campaign.

TSA partnered with Square, which donated credit card readers for the Army to use in test markets - San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas and New York. Sprint also donated smartphone devices to The Salvation Army to mobilize the credit card application.

Online bell-ringers were also a big part of the Red Kettle Campaign for the seventh year in a row. By visiting The Salvation Army’s Online Red Kettle, donors could raise money with family, friends and colleagues. The SA raised more than $1.7 million through the Online Red Kettles, up from $1.6 million in 2010. Other online donations in November and December, not through the Online Red Kettle system, totaled $17.6 million, a 28 percent increase over the $13.7 million raised in 2010.

“Technology is changing the way charities raise money. Whether through a credit card at a kettle or online, we’re making an effort to reach the next generation of donors and make it convenient for people to support the campaign,” said Roberts.

In addition, to help raise awareness and support people in need during the campaign at physical kettles, The Salvation Army hosted the inaugural World Record Bell Ringing Contest. Twenty-four volunteer bell ringers set out to surpass a benchmark of 36 hours of continuous ringing of a hand bell at street corners and in front of local partner store fronts. Three bell ringers, Caleb Stokes and Leilan McNally in Indianapolis, IN and Darrell Tureskis in Springfield, IL surpassed the record and rang a bell in support of The Salvation Army for 60 hours straight.

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