Selena Gomez To Kick Off 123rd Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign

Actress and multi-platinum recording artist Selena Gomez will perform LIVE at AT&T Stadium during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys game against the Oakland Raiders on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, which kicks off The Salvation Army's annual Red Kettle Campaign.

The halftime performance marks the 17th year the Dallas Cowboys have partnered with The Salvation Army to launch the campaign, which raises millions of dollars throughout the holiday season. Last year, the Red Kettle Campaign collected $148.7 million. Donations help provide meals and shelter for families in need and Christmas toys for millions of children, among numerous other social services.

“Dallas is my hometown, and to be invited to perform on behalf of The Salvation Army is such a great honor,” said Selena Gomez. “Giving back is so important, and I am looking forward to kicking off the iconic Red Kettle Campaign and getting those bells ringing across the nation to help families and children in need.”

“We are thrilled to have Selena kick off the Red Kettle Campaign and be a part of this time-honored tradition. Her amazing performance, a national stage and a huge, enthusiastic fan base will be a powerful start to Red Kettle 2013,” said Charlotte Jones Anderson, executive vice president and Chief Brand Officer for the Dallas Cowboys and national advisory chairperson for The Salvation Army. “The Salvation Army touches so many lives and provides nourishment, shelter and support for children and families in need. Together with Selena, we celebrate the important impact of The Salvation Army’s work in doing the most good.”

The Red Kettle Campaign runs from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve and is the largest and longest-running fundraiser of its kind. The campaign raised $148.7 million last year alone, with more than $1.75 billion raised since the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day partnership began in 1997. With the Thanksgiving holiday falling later in the month than usual, this year’s Red Kettle Campaign is more critical than ever.

“Though the Red Kettle Campaign is five days shorter this year, we are confident that the attention that partners like Selena Gomez and the Dallas Cowboys are bringing to the cause will more than make up that difference,” said Major Ron Busroe, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. “We strive to help America’s most vulnerable – children, and ensure that they have a warm, comfortable place to sleep and hot food to eat and toys to play with at Christmas.”

In support of the Red Kettle Campaign, Selena will host her own Online Red Kettle and encourage fans to join her team and donate to The Salvation Army. Fans can join her team by visiting www.onlineredkettle.org/selenagomez. Eight fundraisers on her team will receive the chance to virtually connect with Selena through a Google Hangout.

Selena Gomez is the newest addition to a list of Red Kettle Kick-Off celebrity halftime performers including Kenny Chesney, Enrique Iglesias, Keith Urban, Daughtry, the Jonas Brothers, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny's Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Creed, Jessica Simpson, Billy Gilman, Clint Black, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.

In addition to giving online or to the more than 25,000 traditional bell ringers, supporters can donate through the Army’s text-to-give program. By texting the word “KETTLE” to 80888, donors can send $10 to the Red Kettle Campaign.

From its humble beginnings as a Salvation Army captain’s startup program in 1891 in San Francisco, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States. It provides toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round. As part of the campaign, more than 25,000 Salvation Army volunteers throughout the country ring bells and solicit donations to the red kettles.