Inspired by the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Ivy League Day Camp sponsored its own "IvyLympics" this summer-- with the charitable goal of raising funds to benefit those with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
Also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, ALS is a progressive disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, named after a well-known baseball player who was diagnosed with it.
According to Ivy League director Evan Leiser, the camp kicked off its Olympic-inspired sports competition with "Penny Wars" in which three teams competed to see who could collect the most pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. The campers raised $500-- which the camp matched-- bringing the total amount to $1000.
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The money raised was donated to the Joan Dancy & PALS Foundation, an organization that helps to provide a better quality of life for those afflicted by ALS. The donation was made in honor of Robert Solomon, a long-time member of Ivy League's leadership team who got his start at the camp as a sports specialist but retired when he was diagnosed with ALS.
