PRESS RELEASE
Firefighter Showdown: Minneapolis vs. St. Paul
Firefighters from both departments will square off
Dec. 17 and 18 to see who can raise the most money bell ringing
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – December 16, 2008 – Firefighters from Minneapolis and St. Paul will square off Dec. 17 and 18 to see who can raise the most money bell ringing for The Salvation Army. The Minnesota Wild and Frauenshuh Inc. will each donate $5,000 in matching funds for the competition.
St. Paul firefighters will bell ring Dec. 17 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center before the Minnesota Wild’s game against the Calgary Flames. Leading their effort will be St. Paul firefighter Bob Kippels, a 10-year bell ringer who will also lead the Wild’s “Let’s Play Hockey!” cheer in front of 18,000 fans. The Wild will provide $5,000 in matching funds for donations made at these kettles.
"We are urging all 18,000 Wild fans at Wednesday’s game to bring an extra 50 cents to drop in a kettle,” said Major Darryl Leedom, Commander of the Twin Cities Salvation Army.
Minneapolis firefighters will bell ring Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. along Nicollet Ave. in downtown Minneapolis during Buck the Boot, an annual bell ringing tradition. They will be led by retired Minneapolis firefighter John Larson, who is celebrating his 35th consecutive year of bell ringing. Frauenshuh Inc., a Minneapolis real estate firm, will provide $5,000 in matching funds for donations made at these kettles.
People who cannot attend the Wild game or Buck the Boot can support their favorite firefighters by donating to two Online Red Kettles set up to benefit each department. Donations made to these “virtual” kettles – found by clicking Minneapolis and St. Paul – will also be matched by the Wild and Frauenshuh Inc.
The winner of the ringing competition will be the department that averages the most dollars raised per hour.
“Let the games begin,” said Leedom, who will ride the Wild’s Zamboni between periods at the Dec. 17 game.
The Twin Cities Salvation Army is short $800,000 in Christmastime donations. To help offset this shortfall, donations can be made by mailing a check to 2445 Prior Ave., Roseville, MN 55113. Click below to make an online donation.
