Obama Declines Ice Bucket Challenge

[Former member]

Pledges Donation To ALS Charity Instead.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5680033

President Obama is willing to go pretty far to raise awareness for ALS. But he draws the line at dumping a bucket of ice over his head.

In recent weeks, a number of heavyweights -- including Mark Zuckerberg and Martha Stewart -- have participated in the frigid challenge. Participants are filmed willingly hurling ice over themselves in the name of ALS awareness, then nominate others to do the same within 24 hours or else donate money to an ALS charity.

On Sunday, Ethel Kennedy, the widow of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, partook in the challenge with a number of her relatives in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and challenged Obama to get involved, too.

It was the 86-year-old's way of "welcoming" the president to the area, since the first family was vacationing in Cape Cod.

The president politely declined, but still offered to do his part.

"The president appreciates Mrs. Kennedy thinking of him for the challenge -- though his contribution to this effort will be monetary," Obama said in a statement issued through spokesman Eric Schultz, the Boston Globe reported. "The president will be making a donation to an ALS charity this week."

According to CBS DC, Obama will donate $100 to an undisclosed charity that fights ALS.

Kennedy should be pleased that her encouragement got the military's commander-in-chief to get involved on some level, since she believes that’s a sign of a successful initiative.

"A good campaign starts at the grassroots and makes its way to the very top,” she told Boston.com. "Our family is proud to join the wave of advocates championing increased awareness and funding for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)."

The campaign started picking up steam in Boston at the beginning of the month when friends and relatives of former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates got 200 people to do the stunt in Copley Square, the Associated Press reported.

The 29-year-old was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease in 2012, and is now paralyzed and cannot talk.

While some have criticized the challenge as being frivolous, it has lead to a spike in donations.

Contributions to the ALS Association increased by 1,000 percent during the 10-day period that ended on Aug. 7, compared to the same period a year earlier, the AP reported.

"It's just been wonderful visibility for the ALS community," Barbara Newhouse, ALS Association's national president, told the AP. "It is absolutely awesome. It's crazy, but it's awesome, and it's working."

[Pokey]

Martha Stewart in a wet T-Shirt contest? I'd hit it. 

 

Seriously...who cares about how the awareness is rasied for something like this...as long as it works. ALS is a horrible disease.

[Mr. Silly]

What's the point of dumping a bucket of water over your head?

[Nate]

What's the point of dumping a bucket of water over your head?

 they're raising money for ALS

 

they've raised more than 12 million so far with these ice bucket challenges

[Nate]

actually, this is one time where Obama really should keep the decorum and prestige of the Presidency of the United States ahead of a photo op, so giving money instead gets no complaints from me, but a hundred buck? C'mon, he's made millions as a community organizer, he can break off a thousand bucks

[Mr. Silly]

 they're raising money for ALS

 

they've raised more than 12 million so far with these ice bucket challenges

 

I understand it is to raise money but what is the significance of the water?  Why not have people drink expired milk?

[Chopped Liver]

 they're raising money for ALS

 

they've raised more than 12 million so far with these ice bucket challenges

I'd rather just see the money donated to help the cause.  I don't care about dumping ice water on someone.

[Nate]

 

 but what is the significance of the water?

 

I don't really know...all I know is for the last week on ESPN there's been clips of guys doing this

 

I took it to be like the Gatorade bucket dumped on the coach at the end of a game

 

just something silly and a good enough visual to warrant wasting the 15 seconds of air time to show it

 

but I don't really know why ice water

[Dirtyhip]

A hundred bucks?  Kinda pathetic.

[Former member]

A hundred bucks? Kinda pathetic.

that's what the challenge is. It's the same for everyone.

Dump the ice water over your head(and donate $10), or whimp out and donate $100.

[Dirtyhip]

I don't know much about the challenge.