Salvation Army Beats 2017 Red Kettle Goal

For the Metro Wire

The Salvation Army of Portage County’s Red Kettle Campaign surpassed its 2017 goal, as this year’s fundraising drive ended at 8 PM on Dec. 23.

The estimate for the 2017 Portage County Red Kettle campaign is $193,000—almost $18K over the goal of $175,000. Bob Quam, Salvation Army Operations manager, reports money is still coming in and he wouldn’t be surprised if the final numbers top the $195,000 mark.

“The support of the Salvation Army, through the hundreds of volunteers who rang bells and the thousands of people who made donations, will make a real difference for individuals and families in need in Portage County,” Quam said. “Your support will give those in need hope — what a wonderful holiday gift from our community.”

“The generosity of businesses who sponsored match days, welcomed kettles at their doorways and counter kettles at their registers throughout the campaign, made an important contribution to the success of this beloved annual tradition,” said Craig Shuler, Red Kettle Committee Chair. “You have shown you care about the community we share — and you have helped to make a real difference for our neighbors in need, right here in Portage County.”

From its humble 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.

Roughly one-third of the Portage County Salvation Army’s funding comes from the Red Kettle campaign, with a third from the United Way and another third from other donations throughout the rest of the year.