'Ice Bucket Challenge' Tops $100 Million In Donations To ALS Association
BOSTON (CBS) – The Ice Bucket Challenge hit a major milestone Friday, topping more than $100 million in donations to the ALS Association in a month.
The ALS Association said it received $100.9 million between July 29 and August 29.
In total, three million donors have contributed in that time.
During the same period last year, the ALS Association received $2.8 million in donations.
"The word gratitude doesn't do enough to express what we are feeling right now," Barbara Newhouse, the association's president and CEO said in a statement Friday.
"We recognize a profound sense of urgency and are engaged in discussions about how we're going to put this money to work in the short term and into the future."
Related: Ice Bucket Challenge Expedites Cambridge Institute's ALS Drug Trial
The Ice Bucket Challenge gained traction on social media this summer due in large part to the efforts of former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2012.
Facebook statistics show that Boston is the epicenter of the worldwide campaign.
When taking part in the challenge, users post a video of themselves pouring a bucket of ice water over their head to social media. Participants then make a donation to charity and challenge others to duplicate the task.
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