POLAR PLUNGE RAISES MORE THAN $19,000

Despite an icy wind chill and snow on the ground, 83 participants took the Plunge for Special Olympics Indiana at the 2010 Polar Plunge held February 13 at Mirror Lake on the campus of the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne. More than $19,700 was raised for Special Olympics at the third annual Fort Wayne event, with online donations still coming in.

“We were very pleased with the success of the Fort Wayne Plunge event,” said Scott Furnish, director of special events for Special Olympics Indiana. “It was exciting to have so many community members, including Councilman Harper, out to support our cause.”

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The award for the most money raised by an individual went to Grant Schultz, who raised $6,125 for Special Olympics Indiana. The Fort Wayne Police Department took home the award for the most money raised by a team, generating $1,778 for Special Olympics Indiana. Both Schultz and FWPD took home the top fundraiser awards at the 2009 Plunge as well. The award for the largest campus group went to Leo High School, which had 26 members participate in the Plunge.

As Special Olympics Indiana’s signature fundraising event, the Polar Plunge invites Hoosier residents to be “freezin’ for a reason” by raising funds and awareness for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. This is the third year that the Polar Plunge has been held at the University of St. Francis. In 2009, the Fort Wayne Plunge included 79 participants that raised more than $18,000 for Special Olympics Indiana.