PRESS RELEASE
Jeff Olsen Exceeds Bell Ringing Record;
Christmas Goal Set at $11.4 Million
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – November 10, 2011 – After 30 hours and one minute, gallons of coffee and some mild hallucinations, at 6:11 p.m. last night, local broadcaster and Salvation Army supporter Jeff Olsen exceeded the world record for nonstop bell ringing (28 hours, 55 minutes) and the unofficial Minnesota record (30 hours). He began ringing Nov. 8 at 12:10 p.m. at Cub Foods Knollwood in St. Louis Park, where yesterday the Twin Cities Salvation Army held its 2011 Kettle Kickoff Event, “A Record-Breaking Christmas.” (See photos.)
“Last night three little girls gave all the change they’d been saving all year,” Olsen said, recalling the most touching moment of his effort. “Then their mother whispered in my ear, ‘We got help from The Salvation Army last year.’ That’s how life is supposed to work – they needed help, and now they’re helping somebody else.”
Olsen set another record – albeit a temporary one – when gracious donors gave $24,727 to The Salvation Army through his Online Red Kettle; currently, no other Online Red Kettle in the U.S. has raised more. Nearly a third of that total came from an anonymous donor who came to Kettle Kickoff and handed Olsen $8,000 during the last hour of his record-breaking effort. In addition, Olsen's kettle total will grow to $29,727 when a $5,000 matching gift is added, given as a challenge by another anonymous Salvation Army supporter.
Kettle Kickoff featured the announcement of the Twin Cities Salvation Army’s record-breaking Christmas fundraising goal: $11.4 million.
“That is $2 million more than last year,” said Major Jeff Strickler, Commander of the Twin Cities Salvation Army. “It is a record-breaking amount that is needed to keep up with the record-breaking demand we are experiencing.”
Local volunteers signed up for just under 600 hours of bell ringing during Kettle Kickoff. Starting Monday, nearly 110,000 hours of bell ringing will be available at 400 Twin Cities kettle sites. To learn more or sign up, visit www.thesalarmy.org.
Kettle Kickoff was made possible thanks to major contributions from Cub Foods and KOOL 108 FM.
The Twin Cities Salvation Army serves more than 214,000 people a year through its 25 local centers of operation. Daily it serves 2,100 hot meals and shelters 900 people. More than 33,000 local volunteers help The Salvation Army provide these and other services, from child daycare to senior housing. To volunteer with The Salvation Army or to make a donation, please call 651-746-3400 or toll free at 800-SAL-ARMY. Checks made out to The Salvation Army may be sent to 2445 Prior Ave. N, Roseville, MN 55113. Click below to make an online donation.
