Paint the City Red Day
The fourth annual Paint the City Red celebration kicked off at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 when the General Motors Renaissance Center began beaming The Salvation Army’s iconic red shield from its main display on the center’s tallest tower. The bands around all the towers will glow red throughout the week.
Events for the week included:
Christmas Toy Shops will be held at The Salvation Army’s 13 corps community centers and families who pre-registered for Christmas assistance will have the opportunity to choose toys and clothing to put under the tree for their children on Christmas morning. Each family will also receive a Bountiful Box provided by Bank of America, along with a grocery store gift card to purchase fresh food, for a holiday meal.
Ford Motor Company’s fourth annual Ford Coat & Jacket Drive (click for pictures), which began on Nov. 24, culminated on December 15. Donated coats, hats, mittens, gloves and scarves were delivered via 2015 Ford Transit Connect Vans to The Salvation Army and distributed to metro Detroiters in need through corps community centers during the holidays.
Festivities on Wednesday, Dec. 17, included:
· Two of Detroit’s most beloved churches - Mariner’s Church of Detroit and Our Lady of the Rosary Parish - will simultaneously ring their bells for one minute at 9:50 a.m.
WWJ Newsradio 950 featured interviews with Salvation Army officers and supporters throughout the entire day and broadcasted live interviews and reports mid-day from downtown Detroit’s Campus Martius Park.
Quicken Loans Hosted (pictures above) a lunchtime celebration in Campus Martius Park to raise funds for The Salvation Army. The festivities included:
· Music by The Salvation Army Brass Band from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
· Metal in the Kettle, a zany bell-ringing competition for red kettle fundraising bragging rights among Quicken Loans Family of Companies top leaders, including Bill Emerson, CEO; Mike Lyon, vice president of operations; Joel Gurman, vice president of mortgage banking and Jeff Eisenshtadt, president of Title Source. The leaders were decked out in spirited costumes from noon to 1 p.m. for the fundraising competition.
· Appearances by Detroit Tigers’ mascot Paws and Detroit Lions’ mascot Roary.
To make a tax deductible contribution to The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign:
· Drop a donation into one of hundreds of red kettles at storefronts across metro Detroit through December 24.
· Call 877-SAL-MICH
· Text “SALMICH” to 71777 to donate via mobile phone
· Send a check or money order, made payable to The Salvation Army, to: 16130 Northland Dr., Southfield, MI 48075