Annual event returns to Yonkers Raceway to honor Pat Quinn and raise ALS awareness
The family of late Yonkers native and ALS Ice Bucket Challenge co‑founder Pat Quinn has partnered with the City of Yonkers and Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts to stage the annual Ice Bucket Challenge at historic Yonkers Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 9. Festivities will begin at 12:30 p.m., with the ice bucket dump scheduled for approximately 1:15 p.m..
The event is intended to honor Quinn’s legacy and continue a grassroots awareness effort that began after his 2013 ALS diagnosis. The Ice Bucket Challenge grew into a global social media phenomenon with more than 17 million participants and raised hundreds of millions of dollars toward ALS research and care. Quinn died six years after his diagnosis, but his family has kept the tradition alive in his hometown.
- What: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge honoring Pat Quinn
- When: Sunday, Aug. 9; activities begin at 12:30 p.m.; ice bucket dump ~1:15 p.m.
- Where: Yonkers Raceway at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts
- Registration: Participants are asked to pre‑register online at YonkersNY.gov/IBC
The announcement arrives as ALS continues to affect public figures and families across the country. The source material notes recent high‑profile cases, including the deaths and diagnoses of notable figures, underscoring the disease’s ongoing human toll. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 5,000 people in the United States receive an ALS diagnosis each year.
Organizers also said former NFL running back Chris Johnson — who played for the New York Jets during his career — intends to bring back the iconic challenge following a recent ALS diagnosis, encouraging others to “
freeze out ALS” and support continued research and patient services.
Local significance and what to expect
The choice of Yonkers Raceway for the event ties the commemoration to a central, familiar site for residents. For local families who knew Pat Quinn or who have been touched by ALS, the gathering offers both a public memorial and an opportunity to translate remembrance into action through donations and outreach.
Officials recommend arriving early; registration is required for participants. The City of Yonkers, Empire City Casino and the Quinn family are coordinating logistics for the crowd and the timed ice bucket moment. Media and community groups are expected to attend and cover the event.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, Aug. 9 |
| Start time | 12:30 p.m. (festivities) |
| Ice bucket dump | Approximately 1:15 p.m. |
| Location | Yonkers Raceway at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts |
For Yonkers residents planning to attend or to participate, pre‑registration is available at YonkersNY.gov/IBC. The event provides a visible, community‑based way to remember a hometown figure while contributing to national efforts to fund ALS research and patient support services.
Further details on sponsors, safety protocols and volunteer opportunities are expected to be released by the City of Yonkers and Empire City Casino in the coming weeks.
