WASHINGTON, D.C. – The ALS Association announced Sunday that they have received “unprecedented” giving, as the organization has received $13.3 million in the last several weeks.
While there have been many naysayers who doubt whether the avalanche of social media videos actually translates into donations, a press release on ALSA.org indicates the trend is definitely working.
During the same period, July 29 – August 17, only $1.7 million was donated, representatives said.
ALS Association President and CEO Barbara J. Newhouse said the Ice Bucket Challenge has encouraged many people to donate, and brought 259,505 new donors. Click here for her complete message, which details the groups’ priorities in the fight against the disease.
“I know that many people are wondering what The ALS Association is going to do with these donations, and my answer is this: invest prudently in helping people with ALS and their families and caregivers in the battle against the disease, while resolutely pursuing all avenues to extend, improve and ultimately save lives,” said Newhouse.
ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. According to the ALS A: “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.”
CBS 6 staff has participated in the challenge this week, andeven helped spread the word for a Chesterfield resident who successfully challenged Eli Manning to take the challenge. Check out the videos below for footage of various on-camera personalities taking the challenge.
Click here to visit the ALS Association’s website.
And don’t forget to vote to see which CBS 6 staff should take the challenge on-air.
