Individuals, Organizations and Corporations Respond
With Immense Generosity to Ice Bucket Challenge
Washington, D.C. (August 29, 2014) — Donations as a result of the Ice Bucket Challenge have exceeded all expectations and The ALS Association is tremendously grateful for all of the gifts by individuals, corporations and foundations.
Through Friday, August 29, The Association has received over $100 million, with donations ranging from under one dollar to $200,000.
“People have responded with such generosity it is truly remarkable and we couldn’t be more appreciative, said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association. “These donations will truly help fuel our fight against ALS in ways that were never before possible.”
The Association would like recognize the following individuals and organizations that have each contributed between $100,000 and $200,000 to this effort:
Individual gifts:
- Leonardo DiCaprio, actor, writer and producer
- David Spade, actor, writer and producer
- John Legere, President and CEO of T-Mobile US, Inc.
- Micky Arison, Chairman of Carnival Cruise Lines
Corporate gifts:
- Wells Fargo
- Sprint
- Parsons Foundation
- The New York Yankees
- Carnival Cruise Lines
In the spirit of the challenge, there was some friendly competition among many of these donors. John Legere (@johnlegere) was one of the first CEOs to accept the Ice Bucket Challenge with a personal gift and passed the challenge to his peers at other wireless networks, to which Sprint promptly responded. Carnival Cruise Lines made a donation and its Chairman, Micky Arison, responded in kind with a personal match of his own.
“We are truly overwhelmed at the kindness and generosity these individuals and organizations have shown,” Newhouse said. “With this being the 75th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s famous farewell speech, we are also especially appreciative of the gift from the New York Yankees. They continue to be an incredible partner to The ALS Association in raising money and awareness about ALS.”
The ALS Association has the highest four-star rating from Charity Navigator, is “Top Rated” on Charity Watch, and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity as well as a Guidestar Exchange gold participant.
The ALS Association’s mission includes providing care services to assist people with ALS and their families through a network of chapters working in communities across the nation and a global research program focused on the discovery of treatments and eventually a cure for the disease. In addition, The Association’s advocacy efforts empower people to advance public policies in our nation’s Capital that respond to the needs of people with ALS.
