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What started with a simple challenge by CUES and the $582million CitizensFirst Credit Union has spurred others across thecredit union industry to get soaked for a good cause.

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Credit unions and their vendors have joined the national ALS IceBucket Challenge, pouring a bucket of ice water over their heads toraise money for charities that support victims of amyotrophiclateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. ALS attacksnerve cells, ultimately leading to paralysis. Countless celebritiesand everyday people have participated in the trend.

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Here is how the Ice Bucket Challenge works. Participants postvideos of themselves getting soaked on Facebook, Instagram, Google+or Twitter and nominate three others to do the same within 24 hoursand make a donation of $10 per person, or $100 total. Thosechallenged can opt out of taking the icy bath and simply make adonation. Funds raised not only help further research for a curebut also go toward providing care for those living with thedisease.

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According to the ALS Association, the viral campaign has notonly helped raise awareness but more than tripled donations raisedduring the same time period last year.

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Here's a look at how those across the credit union industry haveanswered the call:

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Watch: ALS hits home at Vermont FCU…

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Vermont Federal Credit Union dedicated its Ice Bucket Challengein memory of Vice Chairman Gilbert Tabor, who passed away in 2011of ALS. In addition, the credit union will be donate $10 for eachemployee who completed the challenge, totaling more than $500 tothe local ALS chapter.

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Vermont Federal has also challenged New England Federal CreditUnion, North Country Federal Credit Union and Vermont StateEmployees Credit Union to do the same.

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Watch more: PCUA steps up …

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During the Pensylvania Credit Union Association's Big IdeasConference, President/CEO Patrick Conway accepted the ALS IceBucket Challenge from Bruce Foulke, CEO of American HeritageFCU. PCUA Board Chair Maria LaVelle had the honors of dumpingthe bucket of ice water on Conway, who then challengedLaVelle, SVP Mike Wishnow, CUNA Interim CEO Bill Hampel, CUNAMutual Group CEO Bob Trunzo and John Longstreet, president of thePennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association. LaVellefulfilled her challenge and called out Corinne Sherman,association SVP, Fee Services, Trumark Financial President/CEO RickStipa, Westmoreland Community Federal Credit Union COO DennisMcGowan and Sun East Federal Credit UnionCEO Michael Kaczenski.

The team at Element Federal Credit Union took a page fromFlashdance for its Ice Bucket Challenge and nominated The NCUA,Callahan & Associates and CU*Answers. Over in Alaska, Credit Union 1 took the challenge and in turnnominated AlaskaUSA Federal Credit Union SVP CorporateAdministration Dan McCue and the entire team. Tobyhanna Federal Credit Union staff, management and membersaccepted the Ice Bucket Challenge in support of ALS research. Inaddition, a donation of more than $400 was made to alsa.org onbehalf of the credit union. Mazuma Credit Union's entire executive and senior managementteam opted to do its Ice Bucket Challenge in waves. President/CEOBrandon Michaels was doused during the second wave. The team at Air Academy Federal Credit Union not only took thechallenge but also donated $1,000 to the ALS Association. OMNI Community Credit Union also took the challenge to raiseawareness for ALS and donated $1,000 to ALS research. Over in Chicago, First Financial Credit Union called out theFilene Research Instititute, CU*Answers and Chatter Yak!. Even CU Times' Social Media Director Myriam DiGiovanni tookpart after being challenged by CU Insight. We're waiting to see ifothers who have been nominated participate as well. In the meantimehere are more Ice Bucket Challenge videos.