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EVENT RESULTS:  2013 POLAR PLUNGE SEASON SETS RECORDS FOR MOST PARTICIPANTS AND TOTAL FUNDS RAISED FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS INDIANA

More than 2,600 individuals raised $500,000 for Special Olympics at 12 statewide sites

See the 2013 Polar Plunge Photos on our Flickr Page!

INDIANAPOLIS – The Special Olympics Indiana State Office announced that February’s Polar Plunge events  raised a total of $500,000—the most raised by the event in its 14-year history.  In addition, the event included the most-ever Plunge participants with more than 2,600 individuals braving the icy waters for Special Olympics.

Twelve sites throughout the state held Polar Plunges to benefit Special Olympics in February: Bloomington, Boonville, Borden, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Muncie, Terre Haute, Valparaiso, Versailles, West Lafayette, and two sites in Indianapolis – Butler University and Eagle Creek Park.

“This year’s Polar Plunge season was a tremendous success,” said Scott Furnish, director of development for Special Olympics Indiana.  “Polar Plunge participants, supporters and fans across Indiana helped Special Olympics raise awareness for our athletes and programs throughout the state, exceed our fundraising goal and break our previous participant record by more than 500 Plungers this year.”

Purdue University won the Campus Challenge this year, marking the fourth consecutive year the student body has earned this award for raising the most money for Special Olympics at a Polar Plunge on a college campus. The other Campus Challenge schools included Ball State University, Butler University, Indiana University, Indiana State University and Valparaiso University.

As Special Olympics Indiana’s signature fundraising event, the Polar Plunge invites Hoosier residents to be “freezin’ for a reason” and “take the plunge” for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. For the last 14 years, brave souls and warm hearts have jumped into bodies of water in February to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Indiana.  The previous record for most participants and total funds raised was set in 2012 with 2,100 individuals and more than $390,000 raised for Special Olympics. The dates for the 2014 Polar Plunges will be announced by Special Olympics Indiana this fall.

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Polar Plunge

Support Special Olympics Indiana by joining the fun of the Polar Plunge. Join us for this extreme fundraising event for the warm at heart.

Participants must raise a “bear” minimum of $75 ($50 minimum for students with a student I.D.) to take a daring dip into Indiana’s winter waters. All funds raised by the event benefit Special Olympics Indiana.

Click the “Register online now” graphic to register yourself or your team of 10 or more for the 2013 Polar Plunge. This graphic will send you to our official FirstGiving site with instructions on how to register for your Plunge site. Thank you for “Freezin’ for a Reason!”

FEBRUARY 2, 2013

• Indianapolis Polar Plunge (Butler)
  (Butler University, Health & Recreation Complex)

• Muncie Polar Plunge
  (Ball State University, L.A. Pittenger student center)

• West Lafayette Polar Plunge
  (purdue University, mackey arena)

FEBRUARY 9, 2013

• Boonville Polar Plunge
  (Scales Lake)

• Kokomo Polar Plunge
  (Crossroads Community Church Lake)

• Terre Haute Polar Plunge
  (Indiana State University, Hulman Center)

• VALPARAISO POLAR PLUNGE
  (Valparaiso University, Athletic Recreation Center)
  

FEBRUARY 16, 2013

• Borden Polar Plunge
  (Deam lake)

• Fort Wayne Polar Plunge
  (Parkview Field)

• Versailles Polar Plunge
  (Versailles State Park)
  

FEBRUARY 23, 2013

• Bloomington Polar Plunge
  (Indiana University, Assembly Hall)
  

• Indianapolis Polar Plunge
  (Eagle Creek Reservoir)
  

virtual plunger

Get the “thrill” without the “chill”! Sign up today to be a part of the virtual plunger program.  Participants are eligible for the Plunge incentive items starting at the $75 level to receive the souvenir t-shirt.

Super Plunger Program

Only for the bravest souls and the warmest hearts, the Super Plunger program dares participants to go beyond the call of duty. Contact Scott Furnish to learn more about the Super Plunger program and meet a few of our Hall of Famers who plunged multiple times in one year and raised more than $4,000 to benefit Special Olympics Indiana. Click here for more information on our Super Plungers program.

Campus Challenge

Welcome Indiana to the 2013 Campus Challenge class.  Best of luck to all in winning this year’s competition for top fundraising university!

Congratulations to Purdue University, winner of the 2012 Campus Challenge.

Volunteer Opportunities

For information about volunteer opportunities for the 2013 Polar Plunge, please email Tracy Miller or call 800-742-0612, ext. 234.

Need More Information?

For more information about the Polar Plunge or sponsorship opportunities, please email Scott Furnish, Special Olympics Indiana’s director of special events, or call him at 800-742-0612, ext. 236.

Premier Media Partners

2012 Video Competition Award – Borden Polar Plunge