Working in fundraising as I have for the past 13 years, this is a tricky thing for me. I resent gimmicks as fundraising tools. I also think it's easy to get caught up in the emotion or excitement of the "challenge" and not understand the purpose or the mission. And, I get the concerns of people saying this is wasting water while people around the world struggle for clean water and California is in the middle of a record drought.
Still, what if only half of the people who do the challenge donate their $10 to ALS? What if only a quarter of the people do it? Reports this morning are that the ALS Association has raised $79.7 million to fight ALS and research to find a cure. That's $77.2 million more than during the same period last year. So what if those are pledges and not actual donations and only 1/4 of them come in (which is far worse than normal pledge to donation ratios)? That's still $19.3 million MORE than they raised during that time last year. It also surpasses their entire revenue from FY12. Just in the last month or so since this challenge started. And if half of those pledges are actually donated . . . or the closer-to-average 75%. Wow.
In addition, I spoke with three of our neighbors when we were in the process of completing our challenge. One of them didn't know what ALS was. Neither did my 8-, 6-, and 4-year-old daughters. And now they do. So if each of us who participates donates $10 and tells 4 people about ALS, then maybe this is more than just dumping a bucket of ice water on our heads.
So we did it:
And then we challenged Marianne Boykin, Nancy Bierenga, Amanda TeKrony, Beau McDowell, Addison McDowell, Ellie McDowell, Abbie Schalk, Tressa Meyer, Danielle Meyer, Sara Meyer, Josh Schalk, and Kate Schalk.
So if each of them donates $10 and tells four people about ALS, then that's another $120 and 48 people. That's nothing to complain about.
Haven't been challenged but still want to learn more and donate? Here's your chance!
P.S. I really did get soaked.
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