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Released 27 May 2009
38,004 Votes Cast for The Salvation Army to Win Portion of
$3 Million Prize
Alexandria, VA (May 26, 2009) – Today, The Salvation Army was
awarded $391,258 from Target as part of the company’s first-ever giving
campaign on Facebook®, Bullseye Gives. From May 10 through May 25, The
Salvation Army’s fans on Facebook, constituents, donors and supporters
rallied together and voted for the organization to win 13 percent of a $3
million charitable donation.
“Target has always shown remarkable support to The
Salvation Army and the nonprofit sector, and we are extremely honored to
receive this gift from Target through the Bullseye Gives campaign,” said
Major Deborah Sjogren, The Salvation Army’s national liaison for public
policy. “This generous contribution will allow The Salvation Army to
continue revitalizing and developing numerous community libraries in cities in
which The Salvation Army serves across the country.”
The Salvation Army’s portion of Target’s
donation will be used to build or revamp libraries and media centers or other
educational Salvation Army facilities in the United States. It will greatly
improve the design elements of centers and will help provide new furniture,
shelving, books, computers and carpet, among other needs. This gift could not
have come at a better time. Many centers are currently under construction and
are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. They 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.
The gift comes on the heels of a $1-million grant Target
gave to The Salvation Army to revitalize the organization’s libraries,
media centers and educational facilities for children across the country. Each
of The Salvation Army’s 40 divisions chose one location to receive a
$25,000 grant for design elements, furniture, shelving, books, computers and
carpet. Target partnered with Chris and Malaak Rock and 250 Brooklyn children
and staff from The Salvation Army Bushwick Community Center to celebrate the
announcement of the grant, as well as the opening of the Center’s
revitalized library that was made possible by a separate Target grant from
2007.
With 291,399 total votes tallied, Target will donate a
portion of the $3 million amount to each charity based on their percentage of
votes, which includes:
- St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital – 77,427 votes (26.6%) = $797,123
- American Red Cross – 77,118
votes (26.5%) = $793,942
- The Salvation Army – 38,004 votes (13%) = $391,258
- Operation Gratitude – 22,627
votes (7.8%) = $232,948
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation – 19,264 votes (6.6%) = $198,326
- Feeding America – 15,574 votes
(5.3%) = $160,336
- HandsOn Network/Points of Light
Institute – 11,378 votes (4.0%) = $120,845
- Parent Teacher Association –
10,904 votes (3.7%) = $112,259
- National Park Foundation –
9553 votes (3.3%) = $98,350
- Kids In Need Foundation – 9,190
votes (3.2%) = $94,613
“We’re grateful to the online community for
their passionate response to Bullseye Gives and their willingness to share
personal stories about why these charities are important to them. We’re
excited that all ten amazing charities will receive a generous donation, as
well as increased awareness through social networking platforms,” said
Laysha Ward, president of community relations, Target. “The voices of the
online community reinforce that giving to those who need it most is a
nationwide priority. We encourage the more than 167,000 voters to continue
their support of these organizations or other worthy causes.”
Throughout the two-week campaign, Bullseye Gives generated
incredible participation and results, including:
- Over 291,000 total votes were tallied
- Target Facebook Page experienced a 3,000% surge in
wall posts, with more than 3,000 personal stories shared throughout the
campaign*
- More than 167,000 fans on Facebook voted for the
charity of their choice
- Most votes occurred during 12-3pm PST
- Salvation Army USA Facebook page launched in conjunction
with this campaign, and drew more than 5,000 followers, and roughly 150
personal stories, throughout the campaign.
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.
Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook
Inc.
* As of May 22, 2009