More than 400 Columbia Business School’s incoming students took part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Friday evening at the conclusion of their first week of orientation.
“I thought it was an amazing way of showing support and I love how this community came together to support the ALS community,” Sarah Zilinski ’16 said.
ALS, a fatal neurological disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects more than 30,000 people in the United States, and 5,600 new cases are diagnosed every year. The viral Ice Bucket Challenge is just one part of the fight against the disease.
Participants in the Ice Bucket Challenge dump a bucket of ice water on themselves and then post a video online challenging three friends to do the same. Those failing to complete the challenge must donate $100.
As a result of the Ice Bucket Challenge, the ALS Association has currently received more than $31 million in donations from July 29, 2014 to August 20, 2014. This is up from just $1.9 million for the same time period the year before.
“The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is just one example of how our students are constantly striving to make a positive impact on the world,” Associate Dean for the MBA Program Michael Malone said.
Students at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania challenged Columbia Business School on Sunday and gave the students a week to complete the challenge. In turn, Columbia Business School has now challenged Harvard Business School, Stanford Business School, and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. The business schools have one week to respond.