Mansfield Playhouse, Ontario officials participate in viral Ice Bucket Challenge

Three members of the Mansfield Playhouse and three Ontario officials were up for a challenge Monday–an Ice Bucket Challenge, that is.

Mansfield Playhouse Theater Manager Tammy Wertz, Artistic Director Doug Wertz and Board of Trustees President Steve Zigmund, as well as Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson, Ontario Councilman Eddie Gallo, and Ontario Police Sgt. Brian Williams each took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge.  

After being drenched in ice cold water, they all still had smiles on their faces because they knew that their stunt contributed to a good cause.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has gone viral across social media sites since late July, raising both money and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”

Participants are required to dump a bucket of ice water over their head or donate to the ALS Association (many do both). Typically, people record a video of themselves dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads, post the video on a social media site, and challenge other people, who are then expected to donate $10 to the ALS Association if they pour the ice water over their heads within 24 hours of being challenged and donate $100 if they don’t.

After realizing the Mansfield Playhouse had been challenged by Tammy Wertz’s sister, Mary Korb, Doug Wertz admitted, “We were a little reluctant when we saw the video this morning and [Korb] called us. We were like, ‘Aw, really? I’m not doing that.’ But then we thought we really need to do this.”

Tammy Wertz added, “It’s all for a good cause.” She further noted, “We actually have a family that’s very good friends of the Playhouse that has a family member that suffers from ALS.”

Of the experience, Zigmund said, “It was really cold—colder than you think it is. We had the ice soaking in [the buckets] for at least 10-15 minutes before we dumped it, so it was ice cold water.”

In addition to getting splashed, they said that they plan to donate money to the ALS cause.

Because they successfully completed the challenge, the three called out other people to partake in the challenge. Tammy Wertz is challenging Carl Hunnell, public information and community outreach supervisor for Richland County Children Services. Doug Wertz is challenging fellow actor and close friend Ryan Kiley. Zigmund is challenging Brittany Schock, Richland Source staff reporter.

Hunnell, who witnessed the three get soaked, said he is willing to accept Wertz’s challenge.

The Ontario officials were each challenged by Seth Cline of Allstate Insurance, Gallo said.

They were all soaked with 251 gallons of ice cold water. “We did it up big so that we should be covered [for future challenges],” said Hutchinson with a laugh.

The mayor has chosen to challenge Miss Ontario Lauren Beard, Kelby King of Avita Health System, and Councilman Mark Weidemyre.

Gallo is challenging Ontario councilmen Neil Chitwood and Jim Hairston as a dual challenge, as well as Ontario Youth Sports Director Kenn Spencer and Ontario Middle School Cheerleading Advisor Mindee Leach.

Leach, who was on scene while the Ontario officials were splashed, said she would accept the challenge.

Williams challenged Ontario police officers Casey Bly, Rod Roose, and Scott Lake.

Gallo and Williams will donate $10 to the cause. Because the mayor was challenged twice (Seth Cline and Derek Metzger), he said he would donate double the regular amount.

Recently, donations to the ALS Association have spiked. According to a press release submitted by the ALS Association, as of Monday, Aug. 18, the ALS Association has received $15.6 million in donations compared to $1.8 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to Aug. 18). These donations have come from existing donors and 307,598 new donors to the association.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to death. There is not a cure or treatment today for this disease.