Total Living Network (TLN) and Comcast are partnering with The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division to provide holiday food baskets and gifts to people in need.
Faith-based Total Living Network and Chicagoland’s largest cable provider Comcast are launching media campaigns asking viewers to “Please Don’t Forget” the less fortunate this holiday season and soliciting donations for The Salvation Army’s holiday outreach to the needy.
Because of efficiencies, such as purchasing food and gifts in bulk and having some food and gifts donated, The Salvation Army can provide a traditional holiday dinner and gifts for a family of four for $60.
“We are very grateful to Total Living Network and Comcast for making The Salvation Army the beneficiary of their 2009 holiday campaign,” said Lt. Colonel David E. Grindle, divisional commander, Metropolitan Division. “With their assistance, we will be able to provide many more individuals and families with Christmas food baskets and gifts for children this year.”
The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking assistance with paying rent, mortgages, and utility bills and especially with obtaining groceries. Even some people who never before asked for assistance and who, in fact, were donors until recently, now are turning to The Salvation Army food pantries for groceries.
“I have often wondered if William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, could have envisioned the profound impact the organization would have around the world,” said TLN CEO/President Jerry Rose.
“Millions of people have been blessed in one way or another by the ministry of The Salvation Army. That includes my in-laws, who lost nearly everything when a hurricane flooded their home and The Salvation Army stepped in to provide assistance. We are honored to work with an organization with their kind of compassionate vision to help people.”
While the stock market has begun to rebound, the September Illinois jobless rate of 10.5 percent is the highest in 24 years, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. And as long as unemployment remains high, The Salvation Army knows that Illinoisans will continue turning in record numbers to the Army for all types of assistance.
“We are proud to partner with The Salvation Army during its busiest season,” said LeAnn Talbot, Senior Vice President for Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region.
“While almost everyone is familiar with The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, our collaboration with TLN will help bring The Salvation Army’s appeal for support this holiday season to millions of Comcast and TLN viewers.”
For more information about The Salvation Army’s programs and services to people in need, please go to salarmychicago.org.
About Total Living Network
Total Living Network (TLN) is a media content provider producing compelling and informative family programming. TLN delivers programming via Comcast Digital Cable Channel 138.
TLN airs some of the most popular national ministries including “Joyce Meyer” and “James Robison.” TLN also produces several Emmy Award Winning shows out of their state of the art facility in Aurora, Illinois, including “Aspiring Women,” “Marriage: For Better, For Worse,” “TLN Now” and “Journey.”
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (comcast.com) is one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services.
With 23.9 million cable customers, 15.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.0 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast’s content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast’s Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (comcast.net).
Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.
Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region, based in Schaumburg, Ill., comprises cable systems serving 2.1 million customers in several Illinois markets, including Chicago, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign, Rockford and Quincy, as well as South Bend, Ind. Comcast employs more than 8,200 local residents across the region.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is one of the largest providers of social services in the State of Illinois, assisting clients in the Greater Chicago area, Northern Illinois and Northwestern Indiana.
Among the programs and services provided by TSA are feeding programs for homeless people, children, and seniors; emergency lodging for families and individuals in crisis; disaster relief; senior housing; substance abuse rehabilitation programs; youth programs; and early childhood development services.
For more information about The Salvation Army, or to donate, please visit salarmychicago.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jordanka Lazarevic, 773-205-3573
The Salvation Army
Judith Tukich, 630-801-3685
Total Living Network
Angelynne Amores, 847-585-6552
Comcast