If you’re anything like the rest of us, your Facebook newsfeed is filled with friends, family and even celebs taking the ice bucket challenge. The internet is buzzing with this video-based charitable phenomenon that has swept the country by storm in a mere matter of weeks. Even tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates as well as celebs like Ryan Seacrest and Oprah have taken the challenge. If you’re not sure what all this is about – here goes: started as a fun way to raise funds for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, this neurodegenerative disorder has no known cure. Raising funds through this fun activity is simple – you get called out by a friend to either donate $100 to ALS or dump a big bucket of chilly ice water on your head. The genius part is that most people seem to be doing both and at the same time, the home videos have become an internet sensation. Here’s one from my bestie JLo.
If you’re still not sure about dumping a big bucket of ice water on your head, here’s a look at some of the simple reasons why the Ice Bucket Challenge has been such a huge success:
- The project has raised awareness for the disease faster and in more ways than could have ever been planned. It’s also encouraging people who wouldn’t normally make donations to contribute, raising awareness to the idea of charitable giving in general. It’s even an excellent way to teach children about the importance of philanthropy.
- It’s raising a TON of money for ALS research. According to the ALS Association, this year alone, more than $22.9 million has been raised to help fund the search for a cure. That’s 12 times the amount raised last year!
- It’s brought people together for a positive cause with a fun, family-friendly spin. You can do this with friends, your kids, neighbors, coworkers – it doesn’t matter – but it gets to the heart of spending time together for a laugh and a great cause.
Have you taken the ALS #IceBucketChallenge?
