Hey, Tigers! It’s Veronica Konarkowski and Melony Howe back for another edition of The Tiger. At this point in time, I think we have all seen our Instagram and TikTok pages getting spammed with the USC Ice Bucket Challenge. We were just as confused as you guys about why people are choosing to dump buckets of ice on their heads, until we found out what the challenge really is and how it originated. So, let’s head back in time to the summer of 2014 when ALS created the Ice Bucket Challenge!

Background

The USC Ice Bucket Challenge was originally created by the ALS Association in 2014. ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. If you are unsure of what this is, it is a disease in the nervous system that has to do with the nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. This disease slowly weakens muscles all throughout the body. The disease may also be known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This challenge was inspired by a man named Anthony Senerchia. 

Anthony Senerchia

Most of you probably don’t know who this man is so we’ll tell you who he is. This is Anthony Senerchia, a hero to his family & friends, the world, ALS Association, and those who have been impacted by ALS. He truly is an inspiration. He inspired the ALS Association to create their viral Ice Bucket Challenge. His passing on November 25, 2017, was a struggle for his family and many others. He was very successful in his lifetime and made many proud. Senerchia attended Delhi University and then transferred to Manhattan College. In 2003, he got married to Jeanette Senerchia. Shortly after his marriage, he was diagnosed with ALS. Then, in 2008, they had a daughter who was his most prized possession. His family was full of love and joy. Even through his struggles, Senerchia kept a positive attitude and stood strong serving as a leader and inspiration for others who were diagnosed with ALS. People were inspired by him and his constant perseverance throughout this very difficult disease. Senerchia lived his life to the fullest with the time he had left. He remained strong and positive and was able to live a full 10 years after being diagnosed with ALS. He worked tirelessly to raise awareness and was responsible for founding the Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised over 2 hundred million dollars for the ALS Research Program. Senerchia left a longing impact on the world and held great honor to his family and those with ALS. 

Summer of 2014

It was the summer of 2014 when Anthony Senerchia’s wife, Jeanette was dared to dump a bucket of ice water on her head. Her cousin, Chris Kennedy, challenged her to do the Ice Bucket Challenge in honor of her husband’s diagnosis. When others started to hear about this, it became a trend. What started as just Jeanette doing this for her husband ended with worldwide participation and support of the entire ALS Association as a whole. This trend stuck throughout the summer of 2014.

USC Brings Back the Ice Bucket Challenge in 2025

Now, it’s Spring of 2025 and the viral Ice Bucket Challenge is back with a bang! Everyone is doing this challenge once again and nominating their friends to do it. The trend is currently most popular on Tiktok and Instagram. Typically, people will participate in the challenge, nominate about 3 of their friends, and give them 24 hours to complete the challenge and post a video of them doing so. The cycle repeats over and over again. This time the trend has been brought back to raise awareness for mental health. It is called the “USC Ice Bucket Challenge” because it was the University of South Carolina’s MIND club that brought it back.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the USC Ice Bucket Challenge has effectively combined fun with a powerful message, raising awareness and funds for what was ALS research and now for mental health. This trend not only encourages participation and friendship but also highlights the importance of the cause. It serves as a reminder that even simple actions can lead to a significant change and inspire others to learn about the importance of the topic at hand. 

Works Cited:

• (n.d.). https://www.pelhamfuneral.com/obituaries/anthony-senerchia
• Comiter, J. (2025, April 21). Why Is the Ice Bucket Challenge Back? All About the Viral Trend’s Return — and New Mission. People. https://people.com/why-is-the-ice-bucket-challenge-back-11719008#:~:text=It%20began%20in%20the%20summer,per%20the%20association’s%20official%20website.