November 13 might have been a cold day, but it was also a great one! Participants attended the 2021 Thanks4Giving Dash & Splash in Asbury Park and helped raise over $85,000 for Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ). We’re excited to announce that 2021 marks the highest fundraising total yet for this particular event! With help from the Cool Schools Challenge, Unified Champion Schools, including students and staff, competed as teams to raise funds for SONJ as well as their own school. Any Turkey Dash 5K participant that raised over $35 received 50% over that amount back to their school, and Turkey Splash plungers that raised over $100 also received 50% over that amount back to their school.
TOP FUNDRAISERS
Thanks4Giving
Fundraiser – Scott Paterson
Team – PBA 345
Cool Schools Challenge
Fundraiser – Jacob Sawyer
Team – Monroe Falcons Unified
The Turkey Dash 5K featured 327 runners and started and ended on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, while also visiting Bradley Beach and Ocean Grove.
Congratulations to the top 3 male and female finishers of the Turkey Dash:
1st Place: Tobin Huang & Linda Griffin
2nd Place: Patrick Ford & Kelli Tobin
3rd Place: Mike Griffin & R. Burten
After the run, 237 plungers proved they were freezin’ for a reason as they dove into the rough and cold Atlantic Ocean.
These fundraising efforts help SONJ provide training and competition opportunities in 24 sports, while offering health, wellness, athlete leadership and Unified program initiatives to thousands of athletes across the state — all completely free of charge!
