February 25, 2016 | Read Time: 1 minute
The Salvation Army’s 125th Red Kettle Campaign raised nearly $150 million across the nation in 2015 despite a slow start during the crucial holiday season.
The nonprofit’s signature drive this year was buoyed by various old and new corporate partnerships and celebrities who touted the campaign.
Drives outside nearly 5,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores collected $44.3 million, or about 30 percent of the total, according to a statement from the charity.
The total for 2015, which Salvation Army officials said was a record for the organization, was up about 3 percent over 2014.
The total is remarkable given that the Salvation Army reported that giving was down for the campaign in mid-December.
“Although the retail landscape continues to shift, we’re encouraged to see that Americans are still willing to give at our 25,000 kettles stationed across the country,” Lt. Col. Ron Busroe, the group’s national spokesman, said in a statement. “The 2015 campaign was the largest year we’ve ever had for kettles, helping us lay the groundwork for a strong year of service in 2016.”
