TMI takes the Ice Bucket Challenge

TMI vertical logo_colorTMI – The Episcopal School of Texas took the big chill for charity Friday, Aug. 15, when nearly 50 faculty and staff lined up in the school’s Johnston Amphitheater to douse themselves with buckets of ice, following a nationwide trend in support of awareness of  ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

Student Council President Isa Magraner issued the challenge on behalf of TMI’s 473 students during daily chapel earlier in the day. Participants included the heads of Middle and Upper School, chaplains, JROTC faculty and many teachers and staff members who each took a bucket full of ice and upended it over their own heads. TMI was one of the first schools in San Antonio to take the challenge and one of the first organizations here to take the challenge en masse.

Ice bucket challenge_TMITMI faculty and staff douse themselves in a mass Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for ALS in the school’s Johnston Amphitheater on Aug. 15. They were challenged by the school’s students during daily chapel; TMI also will make a donation to the ALS Association, Texas Chapter.   

A representative of the San Antonio office of the ALS Association, Texas Chapter, was on hand for the occasion and thanked the TMI team for the event. “You may be wondering how a bucket of ice is going to help (fight) ALS,” said Julia Dyer. “You all are helping us raise more than $9 million nationwide (as of Aug. 15), and locally, we’re about to hit $100,000.”

The school will make a donation to the local office of the ALS Association, which leads the fight to treat and cure ALS through research and advocacy, while providing care and support to people with the disease and their families.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has been spreading awareness through social and other media since it started July 29.

For video, click here.

About TMI
Founded in 1893 as the flagship school of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, TMI is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory school for grades 6-12, with optional Junior ROTC and boarding programs. For information, visit www.tmi-sa.org or call 698-7171.

Contact:
Paula Allen, Director of News and Information
(210) 564-6155
p.allen@tmi-sa.org

Gordon Hartman’s ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to San Antonio raises $37,944

scorpions logoScorpions owner Gordon Hartman accepted an ALS Ice Bucket Challenge issued by Julia Dyer from the ALS Association’s Texas Chapter. Thursday, August 14,  Mr. Hartman and the San Antonio Scorpions players stepped up to the spot and poured buckets of ice cold water all over themselves, but instead of continuing the usual pattern of these viral pictures and videos, Mr. Hartman decided to do something different.

ALS iceRather than directing any particular person or group to pour ice water on themselves in the name of ALS awareness, Mr. Hartman asked Scorpions fans and San Antonio residents to donate directly to the ALS Association’s Texas Chapter. He then promised that the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation would match all donations up to a total of $25,000 made until the following day at 5pm – and San Antonio responded with $18,972 in donations in just 24 hours.

“I’m pleased – but not surprised – that Scorpions fans and all of San Antonio came through in response to my ALS donation challenge,” said Hartman. “Thanks to their generosity, almost $38,000 will be donated to the ALS Association’s Texas Chapter. Helping those with special challenges is the mission of Soccer For A Cause, so we’re glad we were able to participate in a way that both raises awareness and gives real dollars for research.”

Donations can still be made by calling 210-733-5204. In the words of Gordon Hartman, “Together, we are making a difference.”

The Scorpions play their next match this Saturday, August 23, at 7:30pm at Toyota Field against the Atlanta Silverbacks.  For information on Scorpions tickets call 210-495-8686 or visit sascorpions.com.