Head of School and Faculty Members Get Dunked for a Good Cause
A group of philanthropic-minded Alcuin School 6th graders recently raised $850 in donations for the ALS Association from fellow students, parents, faculty and staff who were moved to action by dunking Walter Sorensen, Head of School, in the Ice Bucket Challenge.
The student-led fundraiser was organized by Ian Espino-Barros, Theo Johnson and Elliot Ludlow. The boys issued the challenge to Mr. Sorensen in front of the student body during the annual Alcuin All-School Assembly in early September. They raised funds for nearly 4 weeks by collecting money in donation buckets placed around campus and soliciting classmates to generate support.
“We are so proud of our students for taking this effort upon themselves to help raise money for a worthy cause,” said Mr. Sorensen. “This effort comes on the heels of another student-organized fundraiser that we participated in last May for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in support of childhood cancer research in honor of a fellow classmate. We applaud our students for recognizing a profound sense of urgency and are engaging in discussions about how to help others in our community.”
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Eventually, people with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis. There is no cure and only one drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that modestly extends survival. The funds raised will be used to fund cutting-edge research as well as care and support to people living with ALS.
During the dunking ceremony, Mr. Sorensen got the “cold treatment” by getting a bucket of ice water poured on top of him in front of a cheering crowd of excited students. Sorensen then challenged Upper Elementary faculty members Sherazade Mehta and Davis Felder, along with Andy Silverman, Asst. Athletic Director, who also took the plunge. At the conclusion of the event Sorensen commented, “We are touched by the leadership of our students and the generosity of our community that helped make an impact on fighting this disease.”
About Alcuin School
A vibrant, nurturing, coeducational academic community serving students from toddler to 12 grade, Alcuin School uses the Montessori and International Baccalaureate program methods to foster critical thinking and a lifelong passion for learning. With faculty support, students at Alcuin School are eager to embrace change, question the status quo, and prepare for their future as leaders in a global society. For more information, please visit www.alcuinschool.org.
About The ALS Association
The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about The ALS Association, visit their website at www.alsa.org.