Jonas Brothers to Play Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Game to Kick Off
Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
Nationally Televised Performance to Support Longest-Running Annual FundraiserPhoenix, AZ (October 12, 2008) – The red hot Jonas Brothers band will perform live at the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game in a nationally televised halftime show that will air on Fox television network on November 27, 2008 at 3:15 pm CST, it was announced today. The performance will officially kick off the 2008 Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas campaign, which runs nationally through Christmas Eve, December 24th.
For the past 11 years the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game halftime show has officially launched the Red Kettle Christmas Campaign on a national stage, becoming annual holiday tradition. Since the partnership began in 1997, the annual Red Kettle campaign has raised more than $1 billion, which has helped the Army to serve 30 million people each year nationwide. Last year, the campaign raised a record $118 million. Previous halftime performers include 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.
“I was born in Dallas, which makes performing with my brothers at the Cowboys Halftime on Thanksgiving an in credible honor,” said Nick Jonas. Added brother Joe Jonas, “This year, more than ever, The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign will make a huge impact for families at Christmas and throughout the year. It’s very important for us to give back.” Kevin Jonas finished, “We’d like to thank Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys, Israel Gaither, and The Salvation Army for inviting us to be part of this awesome Thanksgiving tradition. We’ll remember this for a long time to come.”
The Jonas Brothers – Kevin, Joe and Nick – will perform songs from their platinum third studio album A Little Bit Longer, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in August. Since their recording debut in 2005, Jonas Brothers have released three studio albums and stared in Camp Rock, a 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie. Additionally, Jonas Brothers will be staring in a new Disney Channel Original Series, J.O.N.A.S!, which is expected to debut on Disney Channel in Spring, 2009.
“There are no other artists more in touch with America’s youth than Jonas Brothers,” said Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones. “So, this is a great chance for us to get the word out about The Salvation Army’s vital work to a whole new generation of donors.”
The Salvation Army also announced today that Mr. Jones has agreed to serve as the national honorary Christmas chairperson. In this capacity, he will act as an advocate for the campaign at Christmas and also help to get the word out about The Salvation Army’s critical programs year-round. Mr. Jones and his family have been major supporters of The Salvation Army for more than a decade. In 1998, Mr. Jones and his wife, Gene, opened the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Center for Children – a Salvation Army child care center for low-income families in Dallas, TX. In 1999, the family received the Evangeline Booth Award, one of the Army’s highest national service honors. Mr. Jones is now an Emeritus member of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board and his daughter, Charlotte Jones Anderson and wife Gene currently serve as active board members.
“In addition to our excitement about Jonas Brothers helping us launch this annual campaign, we’re thrilled that Jerry Jones has agreed to serve as our national honorary Christmas chairperson,” said Lieutenant-Colonel David Jeffrey, National Chief Secretary for The Salvation Army. “Jerry, his family and the entire Dallas Cowboys organization have been great friends of the Army for many years. Their support helps the Army serve, on average, 30 million Americans in 5,000 communities nationwide each 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 volunteers spread throughout the country to ring bells daily and solicit spare change donations to the iconic red kettles from holiday shoppers. In 2007, the campaign raised more than $118 million nationwide, a new record supported by the public’s nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars (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 29 million Americans in need. In addition to physical kettles, donors can also contribute online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or through a virtual red kettle on any number of corporate or individual websites and Facebook pages.
