The Polar Bear Plunge was once again a hit in Wildwood. The weather was decent, but a cold ocean was awaiting the plungers. There were 1,056 brave souls signed up to take on the freezing waters for an amazing cause. Whether they were decked out in costumes, which ranged from Scooby Doo to Vikings, or simply sporting a bathing suit, this community worked hard for months raising money to help the wonderful athletes of Special Olympics New Jersey! The efforts of plungers and donors amounted to raising over $355,000! These funds will allow athletes to train and compete in future games coming up later this year, including the Spring Games Basketball tournament in the Wildwoods on March 29-30!
The day began inside the Wildwood Convention Center where plungers checked in and received incentives earned from fundraising for their teams. They could warm up, shop for souvenirs, or change inside as well if needed. Many ventured out to the parking lot with their teams to celebrate the day until it was time to hit the beach and take the plunge.
After everyone paraded out to the beach in preparation, they were treated to a wedding on the beach! Congrats to Sydney Harris and Chris Olsen who met at the plunge, have participated for years, and decided to tie the knot with us this year!

As the wave of people hit the water, the instant sense that the water temperature was much colder than anticipated, and the crowd ran back to the beach just as fast!
Once the plunging was over, all plungers were treated to a buffet lunch inside the convention center where the top fundraisers were revealed!
We’d like to recognize the amazing efforts of these plungers and teams…
TOP 3 INDIVIDUALS
Elizabeth Christopher – $7,334
Gary Evangelista – $5,613
David Moy – $5,092
TOP 3 TEAMS
Pigs In A Blanket – $33,412
AlohAvengers – $21,899
Frozen Chosen – $20,868
Thank you to the NJ Law Enforcement Torch Run, the City of Wildwood, The Wildwoods Convention Center, and Wawa for supporting this year’s Polar Bear Plunge at Wildwood. This event would not be possible without the many dedicated volunteers, all of the awesome plungers, and the amazing
Special Olympics New Jersey athletes!
We can’t wait to see you all back next year!
