Ice Bucket Challenge drenches Mississippi Power CEO

Rising to the challenge and cooling down on a hot August afternoon, Mississippi Power President and CEO Ed Holland took the Ice Bucket Challenge issued to him by the president of Hancock Bank earlier in the week. Friday outside company headquarters in Gulfport a bucket of ice and water showered down from a Mississippi Power trouble-bucket truck, drenching Holland.

“This challenge has special meaning to us because one of our own, former Mississippi Power CEO Anthony Topazi, is battling ALS. The challenge has raised a lot of money, and we hope it continues to raise money to find a cure for this dreaded disease.” said Holland.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has become an internet sensation this summer, raising $53.3 million for the
ALS Association. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The ALS Association estimates 30,000 Americans have ALS.

Holland accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge from Hancock Bank president John Hairston who also dedicated his Ice Bucket Challenge to Topazi.

Holland cajoled three members of the Mississippi Power leadership team to join him. Johnny Atherton, vice president of corporate services and community relations, Jeff Franklin, vice president customer services organization and Moses Feagin, vice president of finance each happily dumped an ice bucket to support ALS.

To keep the momentum going, Holland issued challenges to leaders of three other power companies in South Mississippi; Jim Compton, general manager of South Mississippi Electric Power Association, Robert Occhi, general manager of Coast Electric Power Association and Michael Callahan, CEO of Electric Power Association of Mississippi.

Click here to learn more about ALS or to donate to the cause.

 

John Hairston’s Challenge