Leaders join more than 300 from university community in donating

Kent State University's Director of Athletics Joel Nelson,
President Beverly Warren and Head Football Coach Paul
Haynes take the “Ice Bucket Challenge” on the field at Dix
Stadium to help raise money to find a cure for ALS.

Kent State University President Beverly Warren, Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen and head football coach Paul Haynes spent a cold Tuesday afternoon at Dix Stadium after taking part in the Ice Bucket Challenge, a national campaign aimed at increasing awareness and contributions for ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Warren accepted the challenge that was tweeted Aug. 13 by Rebecca Windover, an assistant residence hall director, whose father-in-law has been battling ALS for more than a year.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to support ALS research and families,” Warren says. “My brother’s best friend lost his life to ALS after a valiant five-year battle, so I didn’t hesitate to agree when Rebecca sent me the challenge. This is about taking a stand together to help others, and I’m glad that we can donate to such a worthy cause.”

According to the ALS Association, 325 donations have been made from those with kent.edu email addresses and approximately 3,000 donations have been made from those who list Kent as their home address.

“I cannot explain how difficult this disease is on those suffering from the disease, as well as those around them,” Windover says. “The videos posted have not only provided awareness, but laughter for my partner's father. The millions of dollars raised will provide support for numerous families whose loved ones are stricken by this disease. It is bittersweet that my partner's father will pass before a cure can be found, but it is my hope that the momentum from the Ice Bucket Challenge will continue and that other families will not be affected by this disease.”

Warren, Nielsen and Haynes completed the challenge in the south end zone of Dix Stadium courtesy of members of the football team who dumped buckets of ice water onto the trio’s heads.

“The whole team took part, and we were all looking forward to it,” Haynes says. “It’s not often you see the president of a college doing something like this, so I’m happy we joined her for this great cause.”

"I am honored to accept this challenge on behalf of all those who have fought and are currently fighting this deadly disease," Nielsen says.

At the conclusion of the ice water dump, Warren issued an Ice Bucket Challenge to Roderick McDavis, Ph.D., president of Ohio University, who accepted by phone. The Bobcats will visit Dix Stadium on Aug. 30 to open this year’s college football season against the Golden Flashes.

In recent years, the Kent State community has come together twice to raise money for ALS research by taking part in Zumbathon exercise fundraisers outside of the Kent Student Center.

Click here to see Warren, Nielsen and Haynes take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

For more information about ALS and the Ice Bucket Challenge, visit www.alsa.org.