The Ice Bucket Challenge

Somehow I managed to ignore this long enough. At least, ignore it in terms of not being tagged in social media to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge. Trust me, I've been thinking about it since I saw the first few videos posted weeks ago.

It's innovative and successful. If I have the story right, a man suffering with ALS used social media to challenge some of his friends to either dump a bucket of ice water over their heads or donate $100 to the ALS Association. His goal was two-fold: raise awareness of this disease and drive donations to research, education and support for sufferers. The challenge went completely viral. Apparently the organization raised $41 million THIS MONTH. Their entire fundraising haul in 2013 was $19.4 million.

I was finally tagged on Facebook by my dear friend Ashley last night. I'm a cheater but here was my response:

Thank you Ashley for calling me out on the ice bucket challenge. I've been thinking a lot about it over the past few weeks. As a person deeply involved in nonprofits it excites me to see this enormous response to a cause and to observe so many people galvanized by the challenge. This is exactly what we all want to happen with the causes we work for. I've taken some time to try to understand the ALS Association's work to support those affected by the disease, research a cure, and raise awareness. The challenge has also reminded me of things I'm already passionate about, so I've also taken this opportunity to think more about one of those things. While I might be stretching the purpose of the ice bucket challenge, I have to try to raise awareness of human rights and the enormous problems of institutionalized racism, things that I feel strongly about. I can't claim to understand it or even refer you to a source that can help articulate the complexity of the issues but the events in Ferguson highlight the inequities that should not exist and issues that require an enormous amount of attention and willingness to change. Take some time to read about it. Heck, be better than me and DO something.

Regardless of how you respond to the challenge, please explore any cause or issue that you are passionate about. It's a great opportunity to reflect on what I imagine are a myriad of things we all feel require attention, donations and action.

I know not everyone can be a philanthropist with dollars but we can all be activists, and I think the challenge helps provide a concrete way to feel that we are participants in change. And in many ways, everyone who dumped water on their heads contributed to a vastly increased awareness of ALS. But on the other hand, if attempts at change stop with awareness we won't get very far. I agree that the positive outcomes far outweigh the negative aspects. I wish I could think of something as successful and compelling for my own fundraising initiatives! That said, I would encourage the ALS Association to carefully budget their predicted income next year because I can guarantee that the  majority of the donations are non-renewable. Either that or someone there needs to do an exceptional job cultivating the water-dumpers' relationships with the organization's incredibly important work.