Bronx Bonding Experience: Ice Bucket Challenge Edition

By now most people know about the Ice Bucket Challenge for the ALS Association thanks to the spread of viral videos on social media. You know, the videos were people pour buckets of ice water over themselves for charity. Now the Bronx is taking that challenge but, in typical Bronx style, we do things different and better.

Yesterday elected officials, community leaders, clergy members, business owners, and fellow Bronxites gathered at the Castle Hill YMCA for the First Annual Bronx Bonding Experience. While buckets were filled with ice from The Big Deal Supermarket on Morris Park, the ever stylish Councilman Andy King (Bronx 12th-District) was decked out in blue and orange. The rules of the evening was to complete the ice bucket challenge and to donate money to the ALS Association. The location, sponsors, colors, and rules all contained Bronx flare.

The one responsible for gathering Bronxite’s for this important cause was Bharati Kemraj, of BHARATI Dance Academy. “Our diversity doesn’t set us apart, it sets us together…we are bonding today.” she said before taking the challenge. This is exactly what the Bronx Bonding Experience was meant to do, bring together Bronxites from all walks of life to support a good cause. Laughter and the question, “Are you going to do it?” was the dialogue of the night. Of course this prompted a firm, “Of course!” from The Bronx Chronicle’s very own Sal Conforto.

Naturally, everyone was a little nervous about the cold water but even after the icy cold water hit them, they were all smiles.

Those who accepted the challenge were:

Council Member Andy King
Eliu Feliciano, CEO of EF Sports Inc.
Joel Ortiz, former United States Marine
Lizette Rodriguez-Hernandez, Bronxchester Challenger League
Stacy A. Martinez, Bronxchester Challenger League
Al D’Angelo, First Vice Chair of Community Board 11 and former President of Morris Park Community Board Association
Anthony Reid
Tim Reeve, World Visions
Khirlu Burton, Media Specialist
Eliezer Rodriguez, YMCA & Bronx Manhattan North Association of Realtors
Bishop Angelo Rosario, Bronx Clergy Task Force
Bharati S. Kemraj, BHARATI Dance Academy
Sal Conforto, CEO of The Bronx Chronicle
Omesh Persaud, Managing Editor of The Bronx Chronicle

After completing the ice bucket challenge and asked how he felt, Councilman Andy King responded simply with, “Buuuurrrrrr!” He then recommended that people of the Bronx buy buckets because, “I challenge the Bronx to complete the ALS ice bucket challenge.”

The Bronx Chronicle was proud to be a sponsor of the Bronx Bonding Experience: Ice Bucket Challenge. Enjoy the gallery below where you’ll view pictures of before, after, and the exact moment each challenger felt icy water on their skin.