It’s cold, it’s easy, and it’s all for a good cause.
The viral phenomenon to raise money for ALS in the form of an “Ice Bucket Challenge” has taken over social media feeds — even celebrities and politicians are pouring a bucket of ice water over their heads — and now it has officially received the presidential treatment.
Former President George W. Bush — who was challenged by his daughter and “TODAY” correspondent Jenna Bush Hager — appeared in a video where he said, “To you all that have challenged me I do not think it is presidential for me to be splashed with ice water, so I am simply going to write you a check.”
As Bush begins writing the check, his wife appears on the screen with a bucket of ice water and douses him. “That check is for me,” Mrs. Bush says. “I don’t want to ruin my hair style.”
Related: #ALSIceBucketChallenge: Andrea Mitchell
So who did the former commander-in-chief challenge? President Bill Clinton, of course. “Yesterday was Bill’s birthday and my gift to Bill is a bucket of cold water,” Bush said.
Related: President Obama opts to stay dry for ALS
The simple and fun stunt has raised more than $22.9 million in donation in the last few weeks alone. “We want to be the best stewards of this incredible influx of support,” said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of the ALS Association. “To do that, we need to be strategic in our decision making as to how the funds will be spent so that when people look back on this event in ten and twenty years, the Ice Bucket Challenge will be seen as a real game-changer for ALS.”
Abby Borovitz