“Apple’s Senior VP of Marketing posted a few photos of himself taking the Ice Bucket Challenge on Twitter,” Mike Beasley reports for 9to5Mac. “The challenge was created by former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates in order to raise awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (more commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease).”
“The challenge itself involves dumping a bucket of ice water over one’s head, then selecting a number of friends to do the same. Those who are challenged to participate but fail to do so within 24 hours are asked to donate to the ALS Association,” Beasley reports. “Donations to the organization have reached over $1.35 million since the challenge started catching on in late July, a spokesperson said. During the same time last year that amount was only $22,000.”
Beasley reports, “After taking the challenge, Schiller took to Twitter to call on a few others to join him, specifically naming ‘Chris, Kim, and Tim.'” [Actor Chris O’Donnell, Phil’s wife Kim, and Apple CEO Tim Cook – MDN Ed.]”
Read more in the full article here.
https://twitter.com/pschiller/statuses/499751668414566401
The ALS Association Thankful for Generosity of Ice Bucket Participants
In the last two weeks, the Ice Bucket Challenge has quite literally “soaked” the nation. Everyone from Ethel Kennedy to Justin Timberlake has poured a bucket of ice water over her or his head and has challenged others do the same or to make a donation to fight ALS within twenty-four hours.
Between July 29 and today, August 13, The ALS Association and its 38 chapters have received an astonishing $5.7 million in donations compared to $1.2 million during the same time period last year. These donations have come from existing donors and 106,955 new donors to The Association.
The ALS Association is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from those people who have been doused, made a donation, or both. Contributions further The Association’s mission to find treatments and a cure for ALS while funding the highest quality of care for people living with the disease.
“We have never seen anything like this in the history of the disease,” said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association in a statement. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the level of compassion, generosity and sense of humor that people are exhibiting as they take part in this impactful viral initiative.”
With only about half of the general public knowledgeable about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, the Ice Bucket Challenge is making a profound difference.
“While the monetary donations are absolutely incredible,” said Newhouse, “the visibility that this disease is getting as a result of the challenge is truly invaluable. People who have never before heard of ALS are now engaged in the fight against the disease.”
Currently, there is only one drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ALS, which only modestly extends survival by two to three months. Consequently, ALS is 100 percent fatal. In addition to acclimating to the challenges that come with losing control of voluntary muscle movement, people with the disease progressively lose their ability to eat, speak, walk, and eventually breathe.
“With more people aware and more people engaged in the fight against ALS, we are not only poised to work collaboratively with other ALS organizations but also with pharmaceutical companies and academia to expedite new treatments for people impacted by the disease,” Newhouse continued.
As donations continue to come in, The ALS Association looks forward to funding its present mission-priorities of research, care services and public policy while also considering new projects to move the needle on finding treatments and a cure for the disease.
“Thanks to the Ice Bucket Challenge, we realize how many more people are invested in the ALS cause,” said Newhouse. “The Association is committed to the very highest standards of donor stewardship and transparency. We look forward to communicating with and informing all of our donors and the general public about how we’re putting these donations to work.”
For more information about ALS, please visit www.alsa.org.
About The ALS Association
The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.
Source: The ALS Association
Funny how a bucket a bucket of ice water over someone’s head can actually be so touching. Good on everyone!
Ballmer can’t find a bucket big enough to fit his “Peter Boyle Frankenstein” head.
Hey now, there’s no need to insult Peter Boyle or Frankenstein with a comparison to Ballmer.
You understand they do not actually put their head inside the bucket, right?