Defend IN: 2012 World Record Bell Ringing Contest

Last year, Caleb Stokes and Leilan McNally made bell ringing history. The men rang the iconic bells outside of the Emmis Communications Building on Monument Circle for 60 straight hours.

The World Record of Bell Ringing was put on by The Salvation Army’s National Headquarters as part of a national effort to celebrate and recognize 120 years of The Salvation Army Red Kettle. Now we celebrate 122 years!

2011 started with 24 contestants across the country. By 10 PM on Saturday there were only 3 contestants left. Leilan, Caleb and Darrell Tureskis, another contestant from Springfield IL, crossed the 60 hour mark and set the new world record. Contestants were required to stand the entire time and were allowed a 10 minute break every four hours. They also could not eat anything and could only drink water or sports drinks.

So who will beat that record this year? Will someone step up and defend Indiana as reigning champ?

Here’s what you need to know:

• Current Record Stands at 60 Hours
• Entry Deadline is Wednesday, November 28, 2012
• Rules of the contest include, but are not limited to:
  Contestants must stand the entire time
  Contestants must ring the bell continuously
  Contestants must be Army bell ringers
• This year, contestants may eat and drink non-alcoholic beverages, but only during approved breaks.
• The contest is open to Salvation Army bell ringers nationwide.
• Entry deadline is Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 8 p.m. ET.
• Contestants must sign-up as bell ringers with their local Salvation Army unit

 

Background: The annual Red Kettle Campaign was started as a fundraiser by Salvation Army Captain Joseph Mcfee in San Francisco in 1891. Since that time, 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 workers and volunteers spread throughout the country to ring bells daily and solicit spare change donations to the iconic red kettles from holiday shoppers. In 2011, the campaign collected a record $147 million nationwide, supported by the public’s nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars, credit cards and helped The Salvation Army serve 30 million people in communities where the money was raised.

For updates on the World Record contest as it takes place, please visit www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyUSA or www.blog.salvationarmyusa.org.

Round Up at JCP in Dec

From SalvationArmyUSA.org:

If you meet a bell ringer outside of jcpenney this holiday season with empty pockets – no worries. The popular retailer is making it as easy as ever for customers to give back this season through its charitable giving program, jcp cares.

Starting this Friday, November 23 – this biggest shopping day of the year – customers can support The Salvation Army by rounding up their store purchases to the nearest dollar and donating the difference to our 122^nd annual Red Kettle Campaign.

So when friends or family members open your gift from jcpenney, let them know that purchase helped provide meals to hungry families and clothing and toys to children in need through the services of The Salvation Army. Approximately 30 million Americans are served each year thanks to the supporters of our Red Kettle Campaign, and generous partners in giving like jcpenney.

We hope your Christmas shopping will include a visit to jcpenney, and we thank you in advance for rounding up your purchase!

• Click here to view the official press release.
• Like jcpenney on Facebook.

Keith Urban To Kick-Off Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign

Arlington, TX (October 25, 2010) –Three-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban will be the featured performer at The Salvation Army’s Kettle Kickoff at halftime of the nationally televised Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game on November 25, 2010. Charlotte Jones Anderson, Executive Vice President Brand Management/ President of Charities for the Dallas Cowboys, made the announcement on ESPN’s Monday Night Football this evening.

As part of the Kettle Kickoff promotion, fans will have a chance to win an expense-paid trip to the game in Dallas versus the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints by signing up to be an Online Red Kettle virtual bell ringer at OnlineRedKettle.org. The game will air on FOX starting at 3:15 p.m. CST. Read more