Photo Credit: Jelena Gerga, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts

(Yonkers, NY) – The 2022 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge took place Sunday, July 31, 2022, at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts (‘Empire City’) trackside at the historic Yonkers Raceway. Local and state elected officials attended the annual event which included United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand; New York State Senator Shelley Mayer; Assembly Members Gary Pretlow and Nader Sayegh; City of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano; Westchester County Board of Legislators José Alvarado and James Nolan; and Yonkers City Council Members Tasha Diaz, Mike Breen, and John Rubbo. They joined Empire City executives, friends and family of late Yonkers native and ALS Ice Bucket Challenge co-founder Pat Quinn including his father Patrick Quinn Sr., current ALS patients and their family, and hundreds of members of the community who are focused on continuing Pat Quinn’s mission to raise awareness of ALS and the need for research funding to find a cure. 

The annual event, co-founded by Quinn after his diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2013, became a global phenomenon in 2014 as thousands of people from around the world participated in the challenge on social media. This year at Empire City in partnership with the City of Yonkers, over 350 people doused themselves with 5 gallon buckets filled with ice and water. 

“Empire City Casino is so honored to host the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge year after year to be part of the continuing legacy of ALS champion Pat Quinn in generating more awareness of this debilitating disease and the importance for research funding,” said Ed Domingo, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts Senior Vice President and General Manager. “This is an incredible community that we are proud to be a part of and continue to support in hopes of one day finding a cure.”  

“Every year, our city continues to amaze me as I witness the incredible show of love in memory of our fearless leader, Pat Quinn, and countless others who have suffered from this debilitating disease,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “The City of Yonkers will continue to support the Ice Bucket Challenge and promote the need for more research to end ALS – we are in this every August with our event partner Empire City Casino until a cure.”

Though Quinn passed away from ALS in November 2020, his drive and determination to find a cure continues through his family, community and beyond. Leading the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge this year was Quinn’s father, Patrick Quinn Sr., who paid tribute to his son, and reiterated his determination to continue his son’s mission to provide support for ALS patients and their families, and to hold the ice bucket challenge every year to ensure the need for a cure remains top of mind. Quinn continues to inspire millions in donations for ALS research, which has helped lead to significant breakthroughs in recent years, including an experimental therapy involving the drug Albrioza, which has been approved in Canada, and could potentially provide a new treatment option for the disease.

“Not only am I so grateful for the continued support of Empire City Casino, Mayor Mike Spano, and our community, but the annual challenge for me serves as a beautiful tribute to my son’s lasting legacy and everything he did to help move the needle in finding a cure for ALS,” said Patrick Quinn, Sr. “The community that Pat has been able to build to raise awareness for ALS research and his Quinn for the Win - Find Your Smile Foundation is nothing short of remarkable and we will finish his mission to find a cure.”

Since 2015, Empire City has hosted the annual challenge in support of Quinn and ALS patients across the globe to continue to generate awareness of the debilitating disease and the need for research funding (except for 2020, which was not held due to the pandemic). Each year, Empire City donates the space, set-up and staffing costs, as well as over 1,300 pounds of ice. The City of Yonkers donates the buckets and the stage for the event, and hosts online registration on their website. 

For more information, please visit YonkersNY.gov, Quinn4theWin and Facebook.com/QuinnForTheWin. 

About Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts                                                                                                                                         

Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts is one of the largest entertainment and gaming destinations in the northeast, featuring nearly 4,700 of the hottest slots, electronic three card poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and sic bo table games. Empire City Casino also offers guests year-round harness racing and international simulcasting. A selection of dining options will satisfy even the most discerning palate with fan favorite fare at The Pub, and convenient delicious options at Lil’ Cocina and the Big Kitchen International Food Court. Visit Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts located at 810 Yonkers Avenue (off I-87 at Central Avenue) Yonkers, NY, Westchester County, open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Empire City Casino is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit www.empirecitycasino.com or call 914.968.4200. 

Media Contacts:

Empire City Casino: 

Josh Knoller, Nicholas & Lence Communications, (201) 294-9586 Josh@nicholaslence.com

City of Yonkers:

Akeem Jamal, Deputy Communications Director, (914) 377-6057 akeem.jamal@yonkersny.gov