Polar Plunge raises over $136,000 for Special Olympics

The Evening News and The Tribune - 2/20/2024

Feb. 20—SOUTHERN INDIANA — This past weekend, the 25th annual Polar Plunge was held at Deam Lake and raised over $136,000 to help support Special Olympics.

For the fundraiser, 337 people formed 28 teams to take the plunge into the lake to help raise awareness and money for the organization. Some people attended the event virtually to show their support for the cause.

The two teams to raise the most money for the event were the SOIN Clark-Floyd Counties Polar Bears and Hannah's Frozen Friends, which both raised over $26,000.

Last Friday, Deam Lake had its first high school Polar Plunge in which Silver Creek High School, Charlestown High School and Madison Consolidated High School raised around $17,000 for the Special Olympics.

"We appreciate the community support and all of our donors," said Bobbie Binggeli, Special Olympics county coordinator for Clark and Floyd counties. "If we didn't have all the sponsorships and donors that we have, we wouldn't be able to sustain our program."

The Polar Plunge is the largest fundraiser for the Special Olympics in Clark and Floyd counties. This fundraiser helps the organization keep all of its events free and open to the athletes.

This fundraiser helps the two counties support over 150 athletes that participate in the Special Olympics. Altogether, there are 200,000 athletes in Indiana, but only 18,000 are competing.

Binggeli participated in the plunge as well as a part of the SOIN Clark-Floyd Counties Polar Bears.

"I have a son that's special needs. He's been participating since he was about 10 and he's now 43," Binggeli said. "That's what kept us motivated in the program to help him and other people with developmental disabilities."

Track and Field for the Special Olympics will be starting on April 1. For those who are interested in signing up a new athlete or to volunteer, email soinclarkcounty@twc.com

Polar Plunges are still going on throughout the state and will continue until March 2. For more information on the Polar Plunge, go to https://soindiana.org/polar-plunge/

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