Have you seen people on Facebook posting videos of themselves dumping buckets of ice water on their heads? Are you wondering what’s wrong with everyone? No, it’s not just because they’re looking for a new way to cool down. It’s actually in support of ALS awareness.
The idea is you get “tagged” by someone to complete the challenge—you have 24 hours to complete it or you have to donate $100 in support of ALS. If you complete the challenge, you post the video to Facebook, include #StrikeoutALS and #IceBucketChallenge, and tag a few more people to do it.
The viral phenomenon hit William Raveis first with Kathy Knox, from the Knox Real Estate Team in Massachusetts. Kathy took the challenge head on, and nominated me (I’m our digital marketing & content manager, so it was only a matter of time) and from there it has kind of spiraled. (Keep scrolling to see all of the Raveis challenges!)
After completing my own challenge, I began organizing a massive #IceBucketChallenge for the employees of William Raveis’ Headquarters’ office. The outpouring of support from our employees was truly amazing. We had almost 20 people participate in the actual ice bucket portion, and many more make donations to the ALS Association.
When we finished, there was one bucket left, which Kent Hanley, our GM and EVP of Sales, gladly took as a challenge for himself. He passed the love on to Bill, Chris and Ryan Raveis, all of whom accepted the challenge.
That the best thing about this challenge–everyone can participate. As long as you can track down a bucket (or a bowl, or a clean garbage can, or a really big cup), some ice and someone to hold your smartphone and press record, you’re in. Just by posting a video you’re taking a great step toward raising awareness about ALS, and if you can compound that by making a donation to the ALS Association, all the better. (And, from experience, dousing yourself with ice water on a 90-degree summer day is actually pretty nice.)
It’s incredible how this social media phenomenon has taken hold. It’s swept through the Internet like a wave (of ice cold water, nonetheless), catching news anchors, celebrities, athletes, politicians and everyday people in its path. But what has the actual outcome been? Since the trend took hold at the end of July, the ALS Association has received over $2.3 million in donations–compared to $25,000 during the same period last year.
The William Raveis community jumped into the challenge with both feet, with agents, executives, teams, managers and even entire offices, participating. Check out the videos, below:
William Raveis Headquarters
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153065874413102
Bill Raveis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153070400043102
Ryan Raveis, Executive Vice President for William Raveis Mortgage
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153070383303102
Kent Hanley, GM & EVP of Sales for Connecticut
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153065958043102
Linda Dorsey, SVP of Operations for William Raveis Mortgage
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153065609873102
Bill Gamelli, Senior Vice President of Customer Services
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153073648943102
Steven Csejka, Vice President of Marketing
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204304400227539
Kathy Knox, Knox Real Estate Team
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10154490256670512
Eric Rollo, Boston, MA
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100179027349901
Jack Attridge (famously know as All Marblehead on Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152619125121764
Samantha Hamilton, Digital Marketing & Content Manager
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202339685673643
William Raveis Real Estate, Milton, MA
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1520375121525623
William Raveis Real Estate, Rye, NY
https://www.facebook.com/wrrye/posts/315872435252066
Merry Hampton, Wesport, CT
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=695172110559718
Linda Meyers, Vice President of Sales, Fairfield, CT
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152285046281659
Linda’s Team, William Raveis Middletown, CT
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204541245715704
If you took the #IceBucketChallenge and I missed your link, please email samantha.hamilton@raveis.com and I’ll add it to this post!
Thank you everyone for your continued support for this amazing cause.