Great Public Response Helps Earn the “Community Challenge Day” set by donors within the Community Foundation - Red Kettle Donations hit $62,000 on December 21

APPLETON - The “Community Challenge Day” set forth by donors within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region was a success, by bringing in $62,000 at the Salvation Army Red Kettles in the Fox Cities this past Friday. The $52,500 grant offered by a group of thirteen anonymous donors with the Community Foundation was earned from gifts placed in over forty kettles sites on December 21. The $62,000 donated by the public represents the second highest record total ever collected by the local Salvation Army’s kettles.

The Salvation Army’s red kettles set the all time single day record amount of $97,256.59 in response to the community’s contributions to the Thrivent Financial Foundation’s one-to-one dollar match of $60,000 that was earned on December 7. Thanks to the grant from the Thrivent Foundation, the grand total for that day was $157,256.56.

"I am just in awe at the generosity displayed at this last Friday's Community Challenge Day" said Major Jose Tamayo, corps officer for the local Salvation Army. "I am humbled when I think of all the donations, big and small, coming together, in helping to earn the kettle challenge. Our thanks to all the donors for these gifts. And, thank the Lord for making this all possible," said the Major.

This follows successful kettle matches by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation and We Energies Foundation, which also boosted the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Christmas campaign.

Locally, the Salvation Army has extended its Christmas campaign until January 31, 2008. While contributions have been on pace at the Red Kettles, corporate and direct mail contributions have been down significantly.

The Army has a $922,750 Christmas fund-raising goal for this year. It accounts for up to 60 percent of the local Salvation Army’s operating budget that is generated from public support. These funds will be collected at Red Kettles, corporate year-end donations and through Christmas direct mail appeals. They provide assistance to thousands of the area’s needy this Christmas and will fund many of the Army’s year-round efforts to the Valley’s citizens who are needy.

The Salvation Army’s bell ringing season concluded the afternoon of Christmas Eve day, December 24. Bell ringers volunteered for over 10,000 hours of bell ringing this season. Year-end tax deductible contribution scan be mailed to: The Salvation Army - Fox Cities, P. O. Box 1605, Appleton, WI 54912-1605 or can be contributed on-line at www.safoxcities.org.

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For the editor: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the Christian church. As a faith based organization, The Salvation Army also provides physical aid such as food, clothing and shelter, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. The Salvation Army - Fox Cities has been located in Appleton since 1917. They serve the Fox Valley area in Neenah, Menasha, Kimberly, Kaukauna, Combined Locks, Grand Chute, Little Chute, Appleton and Darboy. The Salvation Army - Fox Cites is not a participating United Way agency. For more information go to: www.safoxcities.org