Local Celebrities to Participate in Friendly Bell Ringing Competition

MILWAUKEE COUNTY – Local celebrities will gather for a friendly competition on Thursday, December 11 at the Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water St., to ring bells in support of The Salvation Army of Milwaukee County’s 2025 Red Kettle Campaign. The overall goal for the Christmas fundraising season is $3.5 million.

Participants include well-known figures from television, radio, and social media, all eager to ring bells and raise funds for those in need.

“Every dollar donated helps us provide meals, shelter, and emergency support to families in crisis – not just at Christmas, but all year long,” said Major Beverly Gates, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Milwaukee County. “From immediate needs to long-term care, donations can create lasting change in our communities.”

In 2024, local celebrities raised $7,816.05 at the kettles.

Donors can support their celebrity of choice by giving in person at the Milwaukee Public Market, by texting Celebrity to 24365 and selecting the kettle they would like to support, or by donating online and selecting the kettle they would like to support at https://salarmy.us/CBR25.

The competition will culminate in a special ceremony where the winner will be announced and recognized for their fundraising efforts.

Local celebrities participating this year include:

11 a.m. to noon
Alex Corradetti and Frankie Jupiter (CBS 58)
Santa Claus
Michelle Bryant (WNOV 860 AM)

Noon to 1 p.m.
Kylee Duessler (Miss Milwaukee 2025)
Hannah Kirby, Hope Karnopp, Kelli Arseneau and JR Radcliffe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

1 to 2 p.m.
Keith Parris (WNOV 860 AM)
Homer Blow (Blow Radio)
Ron Smith (Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service)

4 to 5 p.m.
Aaron Lipski, David Hensley, Joshua Parish, Schuyler Belott (Milwaukee Fire Department)
Albert Vargas, Gilmarie Morales, and Rodaris Richardson (Telemundo Wisconsin)
Ann-Elise Henzel and Rachel Owens (WUWM 89.7 FM)

5 to 6 p.m.
Diana Gutiérrez and Gerron Jordan (WISN 12)
Jenna Sachs and Nikola Junewicz (FOX6)
Pounce Panther (Mascot, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee)

6 to 7 p.m.
James Groh (TMJ4 News)
Brooke Brighton and Megan Carpenter (Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin)
Pounce Panther (Mascot, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee)
Past Winners of Celebrity Bell Ringing Day
2014: Katie Crowther (TMJ4)
2015: Christina Palladino (WISN12)
2016, 2017, 2018: Rebecca Klopf and Coreen Zell (TMJ4)
2019: Adrienne Pedersen and Derrick Rose of (WISN12)
2020: Chief Aaron Lipski and Asst. Chief Andrew Timm (Milwaukee Fire Department)
2021: Carl Deffenbaugh and Suzanne Spencer (FOX6)
2022, 2023: The Wisconsin Diamond Dancers
2024: Alex Corradetti and Frankie Jupiter (CBS 58)

About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army helped nearly 24 million people in 2024 overcome poverty, addiction, and spiritual and economic hardships by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and meeting human needs in His name without discrimination in nearly every ZIP code. By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, rehabilitation, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment, and more, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at nearly 7,000 centers of operation around the country. For more information, visit SAMilwaukee.org

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.