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Live performance at Dallas Cowboys halftime show launches 115-year-old- fundraising campaign.
Country music superstar Carrie Underwood was the featured performer for the tenth anniversary of the live, nationally televised Kettle Kick-off at the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day halftime show. Underwood, the American Idol winner, who was recently named Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2006 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, performed songs from her quadruple-platinum selling debut album, Some Hearts, which contains three #1 country singles.
For the tenth consecutive year, the nationally televised Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game halftime show marked the official national launch of the Red Kettle Christmas Campaign. During these 10 years, the campaign has raised nearly $900 million to help more than 335 million people in communities nationwide.
“Our halftime celebration at Texas Stadium has become a very unique and visible part of the family holiday tradition that is Thanksgiving in America,” said Jerry Jones, the Cowboys’ owner and general manager. “There’s not a better way to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Red Kettle Kickoff than having all of us who support the special work of The Salvation Army know that our collective efforts during the past decade will result in the one billionth dollar dropped in a kettle some place in America this Christmas season.”
At an earlier news conference announcing her participation, Underwood remarked, “I am so glad to have the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving in Dallas this year. My family and I have been spectators several times in the past, and now I am thrilled to be performing at halftime this year! I look forward to teaming up with The Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys for a great day. See you on the 23rd.”
As part of the celebration, Underwood and Jones were among the first to make donations to the Red Kettles, which help to raise money for holiday toys, coats, rental and utility assistance, and many other Salvation Army social services provided throughout the year.
“We continually see increased demand for our services and the annual Red Kettle Campaign is a major reason why we are able to provide assistance to those in need in over 5,000 communities nationwide,” said Commissioner Israel L. Gaither, National Commander of The Salvation Army. “We have been privileged over the years to have the Dallas Cowboys allow us this tremendous national forum, and we are pleased that Carrie Underwood agreed to help us kick off the 2006 campaign.”
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