The Salvation Army and Ford Motor Company Fund fight poverty 140 characters at a time
Tweetathon to benefit the nonprofit’s Bed & Bread Club
The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit is turning to social media to support its 26th annual Bed & Bread Club Radiothon. The second annual Tweetathon will run throughout the 16-hour fundraising event on Friday, Feb. 22.
Hosted by News/Talk 760 WJR-AM, on-air personalities Paul W. Smith, Frank Beckmann and Mitch Albom will lead the charge against hunger and homelessness, broadcasting in shifts from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Oakland Mall in Troy.
Bed & Bread Club Chairman and retired Detroit radio Hall of Famer Dick Purtan will join the WJR broadcasting trio on-air throughout the Radiothon.
The Ford Motor Company Fund is donating $3 for each tweet that uses the #BedandBread hashtag, up to $25,000. Salvation Army supporters are encouraged to tweet on behalf of the organization and encourage others to pledge their support through individual contributions at www.salmich.org.
By tweeting #BedandBread during the Tweet-a-thon metro Detroiters are joining the ‘Club That’s Here for Good’ in the fight against hunger and homelessness.
“Ford prides itself on innovation in its vehicles and finding creative ways to help our communities,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund. “This Tweetathon is a modern, thoughtful way to help thousands of our neighbors meet two of life’s most basic needs – food and shelter. Ford is proud to support the work of the Bed & Bread Club.”
A special Tweetathon booth will be set up at Oakland Mall for people to visit and tweet from.
“By tweeting #BedandBread during the Tweet-a-thon metro Detroiters are joining the ‘Club That’s Here for Good’ in the fight against hunger and homelessness,” said Major Mark Anderson, general secretary and metro Detroit area commander for The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division. “We are so grateful to the Ford Motor Company Fund for supporting the Bed & Bread Club’s most crucial fundraiser.”
Every 40 tweets that contain the #BedandBread hashtag will generate $120 to the cause, which will help feed one person for an entire year.
The Bed & Bread Program serves more than 5,000 meals to hungry Detroiters each day. That’s more than 1.8 million meals every year to men, women and children who would otherwise go without. In addition, the Bed & Bread Program provides more than 400 homeless individuals shelter each night, nearly 160,000 nights annually.
For more information about The Salvation Army Tweetathon, and for sample #BedandBread tweets, visit www.salmich.org.
Bed & Bread donations are being accepted now through the Radiothon’s conclusion on Feb. 22 by:
- Calling (248) 528-0760
- Visiting www.salmich.org
WJR listeners can also donate to the Bed & Bread Program via News/Talk 760 online during the Radiothon by visiting www.wjr.com from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22.
About The Salvation Army
Founded by William and Catherine Booth in London, England in 1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. For more information about The Salvation Army, or to donate, please call 877-SAL-MICH, or visit us at www.salmich.org.