As people continue to dump ice on their heads, money continues to roll in. The ALS Association national office reported collecting $5.5 million in donations since July 29, compared with $32,00o in the same time period last year. Nearly 150,000 new donors have contributed.
Unless you live under a rock, you’ve seen the videos of people taking on the Ice Bucket Challenge, where, apparently in the name of awareness-raising about Lou Gehrig’s disease, people have been pouring buckets of ice water over their heads and then challenging others to do the same on social media. According to the ALS Association, the challenge has also resulted in lots of money, too.
Since July 29, when the campaign kicked off, more than 71,000 donors have donated $2.3 million dollars to the national ALS Association, the organization said. The organization collected $25,000 in the same period last year. The $2.3 million figure includes nearly $1 million raised since Monday afternoon.
ALS Association spokeswoman Carrie Munk said the organization is “thrilled and completely amazed” at the sum they’ve raised and the public awareness the campaign has generated. She expressed awe at the quick rate at which the campaign has grown and said it’s difficult to anticipate how much it might ultimately raise. More than a million dollars came in over the weekend alone.
Who would have thought dumping ice on your head could be so profitable?
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Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com