What is the Gleason Foundation?
President Jimmy Epting accepts the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in front of the Todd Dining Hall on August 21, 2014.
Demi Blackmon
It was a Monday night and the football stadium was filled. After 21 months, the Atlanta Falcons finally played their first home game on September 25, 2006 after Hurricane Katrina.
Steve Gleason, a player for the Atlanta Falcons, blocked a punt in the first quarter, which was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. He was a hero and was later given the “Special Teams Player of the Year” award.
Off the football field, Gleason created One Sweet World Foundation. He also helped launch “Backpacks for Hope,” an organization to help hurricane victims by providing book bags and school supplies.
After retiring from football, receiving his Master’s degree and getting married, Gleason was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in January 2011.
The Gleason Foundation is dedicated to helping people with ALS to live full lives by providing them with events and helpful technology until a cure is discovered.
On Thursday, August 21, North Greenville University’s president, Jimmy Epting, accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from his grandson. The challenge took place in front of the Todd Dining Hall on the NGU campus.
There are uncertainties as to whether the ALS Foundation’s beliefs and values are similar to North Greenville’s. Therefore, Epting announced to the school that NGU would be donating money to the Gleason Foundation for ALS.
Epting said “There is no question that [The Gleason Foundation] matches up to the values of NGU.”
Shortly before getting drenched, Epting challenged the entire university to accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
We will have a contest for NGU students, faculty and staff who send in their ALS Ice Bucket Challenge pictures. You can send them TheVisionNgu@gmail.com by September 30. You will be put into a drawing to win a free Starbucks gift card.
