The Ice Bucket Challenge has escalated into a social media sensation that's literally soaking the nation. The challenge was created to raise awareness and donations to help in the fight of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Millions of dollars have already been raised since the end of July by people willing to have buckets of ice water doused over their heads and challenging others to do the same to raise money in support of this most worthy cause.

In its spirit of charitable giving and all around good sportsmanship, Tri-Ed's senior management team challenged all 600 of its employees to join in the effort on August 14th. The terms? If they raised $2,500.00 by the end of the day, Tri-Ed President and CEO Pat Comunale would take the challenge the next day. Tri-Ed hit the goal in only two hours, prompting Tri-Ed's Chief Marketing Officer James Rothstein to up the ante. If they hit $3,500.00 he would also take the challenge. That goal was also quickly hit, so the stakes were raised again. If they raised $5,000.00, Paul Swan, Tri-Ed's vice president of sales and marketing/Canada, and Mike Culbertson, VP of Tri-Ed's Technical Sales Group, would also endure the bucket. Tri-Ed employees, both in the corporate office and branch staff, hit the goal on August 15th and collectively have contributed a $5,000.00 check to the ALS Association.

(Image: Tri-Ed's Senior Management Team Accepts the Ice Bucket Challenge. From left to right: Pat Comunale, President & CEO, James Rothstein, Chief Marketing Officer, Paul Swan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing/Canada, and Mike Culbertson, VP Technical Sales Group.)

In a press release issued by the ALS Association earlier this month, Barbara Newhouse, president and CEO of the Association, commented on the incredible public response to this cause, stating, "We have never seen anything like this in the history of the disease. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the level of compassion, generosity and sense of humor that people are exhibiting as they take part in this impactful viral initiative."

With only about half of the general public knowledgeable about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the Ice Bucket Challenge is making a profound difference. Since July 29th, the association has welcomed more than 70,000 new donors to the cause. Tri-Ed Distribution is pleased to be among them and help support the association’s mission to find a cure for ALS while funding the highest quality of care for people living with the disease.