WATCH: Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Watch Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

With a lot of enthusiasm and a little trepidation, Gwen and I accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from PBS President Paula Kerger, knowing what a good cause this is.

In turn, we issued a challenge to the NewsHour’s own favorites, regular Friday contributors Mark Shields and David Brooks. (David has accepted — “I’m game!” I’m still searching for Mark!)

In addition, we each picked a favorite charity to challenge. For me, it’s the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, and its President, Dr. Gary Goldstein. Kennedy Krieger, affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, is the internationally recognized pediatric neuro-rehabilitation hospital and research center. And Gwen’s pick was Don Blanchon from the Whitman Walker Clinic, an organization that provides health care services for the LGBT community.

gwenjudyALS gifGif by Ariel Min.

I shouldn’t have been surprised, but our young NewsHour staffers who took on the responsibility of dumping buckets of ice water on our heads, did it with great relish! And, oh, was it cold!


Watch Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill get soaked in ice water…in slow motion.