Bucket That Sparked Charity Blitz ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ Comes To The Smithsonian

Beryl Lipton, left, douses Matt Lee during the ice bucket challenge at Boston's Copley Square, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014 to raise funds and awareness for ALS. The idea is: pay up for charity or get doused. The fund-rais... Beryl Lipton, left, douses Matt Lee during the ice bucket challenge at Boston's Copley Square, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014 to raise funds and awareness for ALS. The idea is: pay up for charity or get doused. The fund-raising phenomenon is catching on fast, propelled by popular videos of the dunkers and the dunked _ including famous athletes and entertainers _ posted on social media sites. And the challenges are raising tens of thousands of dollars and immeasurable awareness for causes from ALS to breast cancer to a camp for kids who’ve lost a father to war. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) MORE LESS
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The bucket of ice that sparked a viral social-media campaign has a new home at the Smithsonian.

The National Museum of American History is opening a new exhibit on the history of philanthropy on Tuesday. A showcase item will be the blue bucket that was used to dump ice water onto Jeanette Senerchia in 2014.

The “Ice Bucket Challenge” was already making the rounds online, but Senerchia is believed to be the first person to tie it to ALS, a degenerative condition also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Her husband Anthony has the disease.

The challenge ended up raising more than $50 million for ALS research.

The museum will also introduce a new curator for its philanthropy initiative. The position is funded in part by Washington’s best-known philanthropist, David Rubenstein.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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