You may remember last years ice bucket challenges, with literally chilling videos filling the media while emptying ice machines and freezers nationwide.
According to Forbes magazine, the summer phenomenon raised $100 million for the ALS Foundation in fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also commonly referred to as Lou Gehrigs disease.
A Hazleton native has his own idea for a visually intriguing, if not potentially entertaining, fundraiser to generate buckets of money for autism treatment and awareness.
Max Jamelli is a 1997 graduate of Hazleton Area High School. He holds a communications degree from Indiana University; he interned at WNEP-TV and also served as sports anchor for WYLN-TV in Hazleton until 2003.
Ultimately, he decided to leave media and join the world of teaching, where he found his long-term niche. He now teaches business at Chambersburg Area High School.
He and his wife, Jen, are the parents of 6-year-old Derek, a high-functioning autistic child.
After witnessing last summers ALS ice bucket challenge, he wondered how something similar might be applied to autism fundraising.
His unique idea requires challengers to stuff whole doughnuts into their mouths no nibbling allowed. The doughnuts can be any flavor or shape from tiny cinnamon or powdered sugar-dusted to the mammoth jelly-filled and goop-oozing varieties.
This competition doesnt discriminate. Everyone who completes the challenge makes a donation to the national Autism Society and then, Jamelli hopes, challenges a lot more people to join the event.
Jamelli chose doughnuts because his son, who is a very picky eater, loves them. Dereks favorite is a glazed type with sprinkles, and hes not alone in his love of the holey donut.
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Hazleton native hopes idea to aid autism awareness takes off