Thomas Rhett Kicks off the 127th Red Kettle Campaign With LIVE Halftime Performance During Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Game

"It's really cool to be part of this Thanksgiving tradition that's also been part of my family for as long as I can remember," said Thomas Rhett. "And this year will be really special because they're here with me for the game." 

The iconic campaign officially begins with Thomas Rhett's LIVE halftime performance and the inaugural Red Kettle donation from the Gene and Jerry Jones family, owners of the Dallas Cowboys. Since teaming up in 1997, The Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys have collaborated to raise nearly $2.2 billion for the Red Kettle Campaign, which provides America's most vulnerable with food, shelter and other support throughout the year. Thomas Rhett will join a star-studded list of past performers: Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Selena Gomez, Kenny Chesney, Enrique Iglesias, Keith Urban, Daughtry, 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.

"Thomas Rhett is an incredible performer with a generous, positive spirit that matches up well with The Salvation Army's mission. We are proud to lend our national stage to yet another incredible artist to kick off the campaign," said Charlotte Jones Anderson, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys and former national advisory chairperson for The Salvation Army. "The Salvation Army holds a special place in my heart, our family, the Cowboys organization and our team. We look forward to working together to bring about lasting change in the lives of those in vulnerable, uncertain circumstances."

"For more than 20 years, the Dallas Cowboys have helped us Do the Most Good, and this year they're helping us Fight for Good with their continued support and incredible awareness throughout our most critical fundraising season," said Lt. Col. Ron Busroe, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. "With a strong partner and a memorable kickoff, we're excited to see the good this year's Red Kettle Campaign has in store."

Red Kettle Kickoff is just the beginning of an exciting holiday season for The Salvation Army. This year, The Salvation Army has issued a call for action as the holiday season approaches. As one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country – with a presence in every ZIP code and a structure akin to the military – The Salvation Army is asking supporters to join the Fight for Good, the official theme of the 2017 Red Kettle Campaign.

Joining the Fight for Good 
Join the Fight for Good in four easy steps:

1. Visit redkettlereason.org.
2. Click "Join the Fight" or scroll to the bottom of the page and join one of our notable citizen soldiers' fundraisers.
3. Specify the community, fundraising goal and designated cause to support, or simply make a general donation to The Salvation Army.
4. Encourage friends and family to donate or start their own fundraising pages.

There are many other ways to get involved this year:

• Dr Pepper Snapple Group: Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, the company will donate a portion of sales to The Salvation Army for every specially marked 7UP, Canada Dry and Squirt two-liter bottle, 20-ounce bottle and 12-pack sold.
• Hanes: Hanes will donate 75,000 pairs of socks to The Salvation Army as part of its annual sock drive.
• Text-to-Give: For the mobile donor, it's easy to give any amount by texting the word "KETTLES" to 51555 and then replying "YES."
• Tostitos: Now, through the end of the year, Frito-Lay will donate a portion of sales to The Salvation Army for each specially marked bag of new Tostitos Yellow Corn Bite Size chips sold, up to $500,000. Click here to learn more: http://bit.ly/2A88uQ7
• UPS: For every use of the hashtag #WishesDelivered, UPS will donate $1 to their three charity partners,, up to $100,000, to be split evenly amongst the partners.
• Volunteer: For more ways to volunteer and give back, visit salvationarmyusa.org to find a local corps.

From its humble beginnings in 1891 as a Salvation Army captain's start-up program 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 ring bells and solicit donations to the red kettles throughout the country.

About Thomas Rhett
Thomas Rhett recently released his third album Life Changes(The Valory Music Co.). It's the biggest, boldest-sounding record of his career, filled with a diverse batch of songs united by the "consistency of their craft" (Variety). Highlighting his "detailed style of songwriting" (Rolling Stone), the new release debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, marking the first country release to take the top spot in 2017. The "expertly assembled" (All Music) album is garnering attention, earning his ninth career No. 1 single, the GOLD-certified "Unforgettable." Thomas Rhett has earned major trophies from the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, Billboard Music Awards, CMT Music Awards and more, while also drawing nominations for a GRAMMY Award, American Music Award and iHeartRadio Music Award, among others. In 2018, Thomas Rhett will launch his LIFE CHANGES TOUR after more than 30 sold out shows this year. For more information and a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit ThomasRhett.com. 

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 135 years in the U.S. Nearly 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster survivors, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. For every dollar donated to The Salvation Army, 82 cents is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, go to SalvationArmyUSA.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.

About Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation
In the area of community service, the mission of the Dallas Cowboys and the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation is built upon an overall philosophy of helping those who don't have the strength, the resources or the means to help themselves, with a primary focus on a partnership with The Salvation Army. With the Cowboys organization having enjoyed immense and unprecedented success, the Jones family feels a very strong obligation to take the visibility, energy and celebrity of one of the world's most powerful sports franchises and channel those dynamic forces toward the bigger purpose of making a difference. Recognized as one of the world's most generous families, the Joneses enlist the talents, skills and resources of every Cowboys player, coach, cheerleader and member of the organization to provide a unique and cutting- edge approach to community outreach. More information about the Dallas Cowboys and the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation can be found at DallasCowboys.com.

For more information about The Salvation Army and the Red Kettle Kickoff, please visit blog.salvationarmyusa.org, facebook.com/SalvationArmyUSA or twitter.com/salvationarmyus.

SOURCE The Salvation Army USA