Giving Back

On Monday, September 8, three members of the Bernardi Toyota management team accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to the delight of on-looking staff and customers.  A beautiful fall day was the background for this episode of the charitable event that has swept the nation and brought increased awareness and over 100 million dollars in new donations to the ALS Association since it began on July 29th. 

ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.  There is no treatment or cure for ALS which strikes over 30,000 people each year.  The Ice Bucket Challenge was created by Peter Frates, a Belmont resident and Boston College baseball player and graduate who was diagnosed with ALS in 2012.  This social media fund-raising phenomenon quickly went viral and the Challenge has been accepted by celebrities, politicians and importantly, our friends, neighbors and co-workers supporting a worthy and humbling cause.  

Bernardi Toyota General Manager Mike Knox, Parts Director Bernie Geddry and Service Director John Dowden mustered their strength for the multiple icy-cold buckets poured over their heads drenching them to the bone!  The generosity of Bernardi Toyota staff sent over $600 in donations to ALS Association.  Congratulations to ALL!

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