Drew Carey Offers $10,000 to Find ALS Pranksters
by Shannon KeirnanWhether you loved the Ice Bucket Challenge, or got tired of seeing it all over your news feed, there's no doubt that the movement raised a significant amount of money for ALS research, and thereby did some good.
Not everyone, however, entered the challenge with good intentions. A "prank," if you want to call an act of cruelty and bullying by such an innocent term, swept the Internet last week. In the now-viral video, a 14-year-old boy with autism is participating in the challenge. Unfortunately, high school students used the opportunity to dump, not ice water, but a bucket of human waste, urine, spit, and cigarette butts, over the boy's head.
The video has infuriated many, especially in Ohio, where it takes place. It even caught the attention of Drew Carey, a native of Cleveland, who decided to take action to track down the responsible teens and punish them.
"These kids should be arrested and expelled," he said of the deed. He even offered $10,000 to help out officers in the search for those who pulled the cruel trick.
"If the Bay Village PD wants to start a reward fund to find who did this, contact me. I'll donate $10k," he tweeted.
When another Twitter user told him that the officers would probably have no difficulty tracking down the kids, and suggested that Carey donate the money to Autism Speaks instead, Carey was immediately on board.
"If they find them w/out reward $, then done :)," the "Price is Right" host answered.
Jenny McCarthy and new husband Donnie Wahlberg also chimed in that they would contribute another $20,000 between the two of them, and Montel Williams added that he would donate as well.
Currently, it is unclear whether or not the Bay Village police department is accepting donations as they track down the responsible parties, but they are hoping "collective community anger" will lead to more support for organizations like Austim Speaks in the meantime.