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Released 11 May 2009
Target Selects The Salvation Army As One of Ten Charities to Receive a Portion of $3 Million.
Alexandria, VA (May 11, 2009) - As part of the first day of National Salvation Army Week, The Salvation Army announced its participation in Bullseye Gives (www.Facebook.com/Target), the first-ever Target Facebook giving campaign. From May 10 through May 25, The Salvation Army's Facebook friends, fans, constituents, donors and supporters can vote for the organization to win a portion of a $3 million charitable donation. The more votes, the larger the donation.
"The Salvation Army is excited and grateful to be part of Target's groundbreaking fundraising idea through Facebook," said Major George Hood, national community relations secretary for The Salvation Army. "It gives us another great way to engage our donors, friends and partners in a meaningful way during National Salvation Army Week 2009 for the betterment of those we serve."
Much of The Salvation Army and Target's nearly four-year partnership focuses on education for those in need, particularly at-risk youth. In November of 2008, Target donated $1 million to The Salvation Army to build or revamp a library, media center or other educational Salvation Army facility in one of each of the forty geographic Army Divisions in the United States. This gift could not have come at a better time. The centers are currently under construction and are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. Many of the centers will provide updated educational outlets and after-school care for kids in the community as well as job training, resume assistance and other much-needed educational resources for adults impacted by the current economic circumstances. Depending on the amount allotted to the Army, the funds raised through Bullseye Gives will go to either further enhance current library projects from the initial grant or to build additional centers in new locations across the United States.
Based on the percentage of votes received by each charity, that percentage will determine a charities' portion of the $3 million donation. All votes and dollars allocated will be updated in real time on the Target Facebook page throughout the course of the contest. Site visitors can vote once per day, every day, throughout the entirety of the contest. The final donation allocations per charity will be announced on May 26.
"At Target, our reputation is built on our legacy of service, and Bullseye Gives is an incredible opportunity for us to continue to engage the public in our giving," said Laysha Ward, president of community relations, Target. "This is a unique way to help raise awareness of the important work these deserving charities do and increase local volunteerism nationwide."
The selected charities fall within the Target's core areas of giving, as well as causes that are of specific interest to its guests. The other nine charities participating include the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Feeding America, HandsOn Network/Points of Light Institute, Kids In Need, Parent Teacher Association, National Park Foundation, Operation Gratitude, Red Cross, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 128 years in the United States. Nearly 29 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing 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. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,699 stores in 49 states nationwide and at Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week.