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What is the Polar Plunge?

The Polar Plunge is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations and businesses to support Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes by jumping into icy waters.  In 2024, Special Olympics Wisconsin will be hosting Polar Plunges across the state as well as let participants choose to participate in an Alternative Plunge. New in 2024 is our first ever Inclusive Plunge which will be held at the Whitewater Aquatics Center and will be accessible for individuals with varying abilities.

Polar Plunger

 

  • The traditional way to Plunge. Jump into freezing cold water and bask in your generous glory!

  • Min. Fundraising Fee: $100

Polar Pledger

 

  • A way to be involved without getting wet! It’s a win-win.

  • Min. Fundraising Fee: $100

Volunteer

  • Join us as a Volunteer! Or contact us at plunge@specialolympicswisconsin.org for volunteer opportunities.

 

Frequent Questions:

Who does the Polar Plunge benefit?

The Polar Plunge benefits Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes across the state, who compete and train year-round in 19 different sports. For many of our athletes, Special Olympics Wisconsin is their main way to stay connected, active and engaged.

While the pandemic has been hard on all of us, it has hit our athletes especially hard. We have worked hard to adapt and reduce social isolation by offering a variety of safe alternatives to help keep the athletes connected and healthy, but we all know that it’s just not quite the same.

That’s why your support through the Polar Plunge is so important this year. We need your help to continue offering our incredible sports, health, leadership, and all-around inclusive programming.

How much of my donation goes to Special Olympics Wisconsin?

100%! We thank you for your support of the athletes that we serve!

So really, I’m jumping into an icy-cold body of water?

Yup! That’s the plan! We have law enforcement and fire department volunteers in wet suits in the water with you, so everyone is safe. The plunge depths vary depending on where you plunge. Average temperatures are expectedly chilly. There are heated changing tents available for participants. Separate men’s and women’s changing areas are available, and gender neutral “family” changing is available at some plunge sites.

What are the emergency weather plans for the Plunge?

The plunges happen rain, sleet, snow, or shine! We will never cancel a plunge, but if temperatures reach dangerous lows, we will modify the event accordingly. Come ready to jump in!

How old do you have to be to Plunge?

There is no age requirement to participate in the Polar Plunge. Young children are welcome to participate, but that decision is left to the sole discretion of the child’s parent or guardian.  For individuals under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must agree to the Terms and Conditions during the online registration process and sign the event participant waiver.

What is the minimum amount that I need to raise to participate in the event?

All Plungers must raise a minimum of $100 in order to plunge.

This is my first-time plunging, what do I need to bring to the Plunge?

We recommend you bring a change of clothes, a dry pair of shoes, and a towel for after the Plunge. Older shoes, Costumes and team spirit are encouraged for the icy dip. Please keep in mind that if you lose a piece of your outfit, we won’t be able to retrieve it for you from the water.

What incentives are available to participants who raise more than the minimum $100?

Incentives will be available for Plungers at the $250, $500, $750 and $1,000+ fundraising thresholds.

Are the Polar Plunge incentives or long sleeve t-shirts available for purchase?

We do not sell any of our Polar Plunge incentives because we feel it is a privilege for those who participate and have earned the various incentive levels.

What is your refund policy?

Donations made to the Polar Plunge are charitable contributions and nonrefundable.

When and how will I receive my incentives?

All traditional Polar Plungers who have reached their $100 fundraising minimum by midnight on their Plunge location’s Guaranteed Incentive Deadline will receive their 2024 Polar Plunge incentives to include the long sleeve t-shirt and other items earned at the event or pre-registration where offered. Alternative Polar Plunge participants will receive their incentives via mail* in late April as long as they submit their $100 minimum to Special Olympics Wisconsin via Classy Fundraising page by March 29, 2024.

Location Plunge Date Guaranteed Incentive Deadline
Wisconsin Rapids 2.3.2024 1.17.2024
Oshkosh 2.10.2024 1.24.2024
Madison 2.17.2024 1.31.2024
Green Bay Area 2.24.2024 2.7.2024
Milwaukee 2.24.2024 2.7.2024
Chippewa Falls 3.2.2024 2.14.2024
La Crosse 3.2.2024 2.14.2024
Whitewater 3.9.2024 2.28.2024
Alternative ANY 3.29.2024

 

Will I still get my incentives after the deadline?

Any plungers who meet the minimum $100 to plunge and earns any incentives AFTER the deadline will be distributed at the event until supplies run out, size is not guaranteed. If supplies run out, the incentive vendor will hand out a missing incentive card and you will order your missing incentives online and either pick up or pay for shipping through the vendor to have them delivered to you after all plunges have closed.

How do I submit offline donations?

  • For cash donations under $100, plungers should deposit the cash into their bank account and make a donation via their Classy Fundraising page.
  • For cash donations over $100, plungers should exchange donations into a money order or cashier check. Then complete the Offline Donation Submission Form and mail it along with the money order to the address below. Ensure you include complete donor information so that a tax letter can be sent to your donor.
  • Check donations should be mailed along with a completed Offline Donation Submission Form to the address below:

Mail offline donations to:

Special Olympics Wisconsin
Attn: Polar Plunge
6582 Ronald Reagan Ave
Madison, WI 53704

I have a donor who wants to write a check. Who should they make it payable to?

All checks should be made payable to Special Olympics Wisconsin. Donations with complete donor information will receive a tax letter from Special Olympics Wisconsin.

I have a group of people that want to Plunge together. Can we form a team?

Yes! Forming a team is a great way to motivate one another to raise more money for Special Olympics Wisconsin. When registering, select the “Create a Team” option. Please keep in mind, that incentives are earned by individual fundraising pages, NOT by team totals.

Can my team plunge together?

Teams can plunge together. Please take note that larger teams may need to separate for safety protocol at locations where the plunge entry is smaller

Participant Account Questions:

How do I register via the online system Classy?

Do all team members need to register online?

Yes. All plungers must register online. Individuals under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian with them when they register as they must agree to our Terms and Conditions. If you are unable to register online, please contact your local Plunge Event Manager.

I accidentally registered twice. What should I do?

In order to properly track your online donations, it is best that you only have one online registration record per Plunge location.  If you accidentally registered twice, contact your Plunge Event Manager or email plunge@specialolympicswisconsin.org. Please include your Plunge location, the two email addresses you registered under and which of those accounts you would like to keep. We will take care of the issue and email you back once the correction has been made.

I forgot my username and/or password, what do I do?

Your username is the email address you used during registration. If you do not remember what email you used, contact your Plunge Event Manager or email plunge@specialolympicswisconsin.org with your full name and past Polar Plunge location. If you forgot your password, utilize the Forgot Password option under the login section of your fundraising page.

Can team members share an online donation?

Donations made online CANNOT be split between team members.

How do I find my friend’s Plunge page to make a donation?

You can search for Plungers by utilizing the search bar at the top of the Plunge Fundraising page by the location that your friend will be participating at.

Will I be able to see pictures from the Plunge online after the event?

Yes! Pictures and videos received from SOWI Photographers will be available from our Special Olympics Wisconsin Flickr account.

How do I send emails to ask for donations, ask others to join my team or thank donors?

The How to Fundraise tool in our Plunge Tool-kit can be helpful, but we can’t guarantee that the emails won’t go to your recipient’s spam folder. To be sure your emails are being received, we recommend you send requests through your own personal email account.

If you prefer to use the Polar Plunge website: Log into your account by visiting your fundraising page and clicking Login in the top right corner. Select Manage in the top toolbar. Here you can send emails out asking for a donation, thank a donor for supporting your efforts or create a personalized email. Choose or enter email addresses, edit the default text however you’d like, then Send Email. Again, please be aware that the emails can sometimes go to recipients’ spam/junk folders.

I don’t want to use the online fundraising program. Can I still participate?

No. While we encourage you to register online and fundraise online, we know there are issues that come with that access. Please contact your Plunge Event Manager. They can assist in the online registration process for you.

Donation & Fundraising Questions:

Who should checks be written out to?

Checks can be written out to Special Olympics Wisconsin

Are donations tax deductible?

Yes! Our tax ID/EIN number is 39-1176591.

My company offers matching gifts. How does that work towards my total?

Matching gifts are a great way to raise additional funds for your Polar Plunge. As long as we receive the matching gift paperwork BEFORE the close of the event deadline (March 29, 2024), you will receive credit for the donation towards your fundraising total.

*For assistance with gift matching, email us at plunge@specialolympicswisconsin.org.

Will my supporters automatically receive a receipt or do I need to request one?

Special Olympics Wisconsin automatically generates receipts for anyone who contributes by check, money order, or cash and for whom we have complete and accurate contact information (name and mailing address).  All donations that are made online via credit card automatically receive a donation receipt via email for any amount.

Can I utilize social media or other fundraising platforms to raise funds towards my Plunge efforts?

Yes! Be sure to utilize our Plunge Participant Toolkit. Please note, all online fundraising should be done through the provided Fundraising Page created during the registration process. *Funds raised through third-party pages (Go Fund Me, Facebook Donations, etc.) cannot be credited towards your fundraising efforts* due to a lack of information provided by those companies when distributing funds raised.

I can’t collect all my donations before the Polar Plunge. What do I do?

As long as you have the minimum $100 by the time of the Plunge, you’ll be able to Plunge with us.  Any donations received by March 29, 2024 will be applied to your fundraising efforts and go towards receiving your Plunge Incentives.  To submit donations after the event please complete this Offline Donation Submission Form and mail items to:

Mail offline donations to:

Special Olympics Wisconsin
Attn: Polar Plunge
6582 Ronald Reagan Ave
Madison, WI 53704

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