Alexandria, VA (November 15, 2012) –The Salvation Army announced today that three-time gold medalist and World Champion swimmer Nathan Adrian will support The Salvation Army as his charity of choice this Christmas season through a variety of online and in-person promotions surrounding the 122nd annual Red Kettle Campaign. Adrian has a long history of supporting The Salvation Army, including as a young volunteer bell-ringer in his hometown of Bremerton, WA.
“I was first introduced to The Salvation Army thanks to my parents, who have been involved with them for a number of years in my hometown, and I am honored to support an organization that is committed to helping people who are in need,” said Adrian. “I understand and appreciate that I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for the support of so many people around me and I want to help pay it forward. We have a lot planned this holiday season and I’m looking forward to encouraging giving nationwide.”
During the Red Kettle Campaign, Nathan will take part in a variety of online and in-person events, including:
· Taking part in a Q&A with The Salvation Army, which will be hosted on The Salvation Army’s blog at blog.SalvationArmyUSA.org;
· Serving as the honorary chairman for The Salvation Army’s second annual World Record Bell-Ringing Contest in which bell-ringers across the country compete to ring for the longest consecutive period of time (last year’s record was set at 60 hours); and
· Supporting The Salvation Army’s third annual Rock the Red Kettle Concert in Los Angeles, featuring a number of today’s hottest young artists including Owl City, Hot Chelle Rae, Andy Grammer, and Bridgit Mendler.
“Nathan is a true American champion, not just on the podium, but in the hearts and minds of young people who look up to him for inspiration,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army. “The Salvation Army is excited to partner with Nathan this Christmas and we look forward to educating the next generation of philanthropists on how they can help the less fortunate.”
Nathan’s parents, Cecilia and Jim Adrian, are long-time supporters of The Salvation Army in Bremerton, WA, where Nathan was born and raised. Jim, a retired nuclear engineer for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, was recently elected as Chairman of the Advisory Board for The Salvation Army in Bremerton, where he helps guide the Army’s efforts locally.
From its humble origin 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 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 raised more than $147.6 million nationwide, a new record supported by the public’s nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars, credit cards (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 30 million Americans in need.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.
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Kudos to Adrian for carrying on the tradition of using his swimming fame to help those less fortunate than him. The swimming community as a whole often tends to be blessed and in a position to help, and in my experience, they have been a generous lot.
I can’t personally support the Salvation Army fully until they fulfill their promise to get a tighter rein on the discriminatory practices of some of their local chapters. In the meantime, I encourage swimmers who want to give during this holiday season, whether they support the Salvation Army or not, to also donate or volunteer for charities such as Goodwill, The Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and Habitat for Humanity. Of course if… Read more »
Nathan is a class act!!
God bless you Nathan! We’ve had the blessing of having our swim family ring the Salvation Army bell for several years. It is our annual holiday tradition. Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’