Special Olympics to bring Polar Plunge to Erie

The Erie Sports Commission is pleased to announce that Special Olympics PA will hold its Polar Plunge fundraiser in Erie for the first time on Saturday, November 21. The Erie event will kick off the Special Olympics PA Plunge Season, which sees nine Plunge events raising money for Special Olympics across Pennsylvania.

Participants are asked to raise a minimum of $50 before jumping into Lake Erie from Beach 7. The goal of the event is to raise money for Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes and to build awareness of the organization’s programs.

Registration on event day will begin at 9 a.m., with an 11:45 a.m. safety briefing preceding the plunge at noon. Participants will receive a Plunge t-shirt, and appropriate costumes are encouraged. The event is free for spectators.

The Polar Plunge is expected to draw participants from across the state to plunge into Lake Erie.

The event will host a “Cool Schools” Challenge, in which awards will be given to the high school and collegiate team that raises the most money for the event. Each team member of a “Cool School” team with a minimum of 10 team members is asked to raise a minimum of $50.

For those who want to participate but not enter the cold water, a “Too Chicken to Plunge” division will be offered. Those participants are also asked to raise $50, and will receive free food and activities on the day of the Plunge, in addition to a long-sleeved “Too Chicken to Plunge” t-shirt and fundraising incentives.

"This event is one of a kind, as it gives everyone in the community an opportunity to do something bold and daring in support of nearly 20,000 Special Olympics athletes across the state," said Special Olympics Pennsylvania President and CEO Matt Aaron. "Our statewide Polar Plunge continues to grow, and we are pleased to now include the Erie region as well as receive support from the Erie Sports Commission to generate interest.”

“We are thrilled that the Special Olympics PA Polar Plunge expanded to Erie this year, and even happier that they reached out to us for support,” said Ron Sertz, Executive Director of the Erie Sports Commission. “Our hope is to help grow it into PA’s premier Plunge site that sees visitors from across the state each year.”

For more information, or to register, visit www.plungepa.org. 

The Erie Sports Commission is committed to promoting the Erie region as a prime destination for sports and recreation. The major goals of the ESC are to attract, create, support, and host sporting and recreational events that have a positive economic impact on the region, and assist in maximizing the potential of all regional sports facilities and venues. The ESC strives to enhance the image of Erie by showcasing the community, promote wellness through healthy lifestyles, and improve the quality of life for community members of all ages.