Polar Plunge Winter Fest

Do you like it cold?

Like, really, really, really cold?

If you do, and you’re looking for a way to find a little adrenalin rush this winter while simultaneously helping out a great cause, then the Polar Plunge is for you.

The Polar Plunge is a charity event held by Special Olympics of Virginia to raise money in the spirit of making dreams come true for Special Olympians in the Commonwealth. The Plunge goes down at four locations across Virginia: Virginia Beach, Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Southwest Virginia.

The concept is simple – sign up to participate, then head out to get friends and family to sponsor your plunge. When the big day comes, you need to take a deep breath, close your eyes, and plunge forward into the frigid Atlantic with hundreds of other Plungers. The more money you raise, the cooler the incentive prizes you’ll get in return for your fundraising efforts.

Each Plunger must raise $50 to participate in the event. Beyond that, cool (well, ice cold actually) prizes and entries into drawings await at higher levels of fund raising:
1. Raise $100, and you’ll score a commemorative Plunge t-shirt
2. Raise $300, and you’ll receive a Polar Plunge towel to dry yourself off with after the deed
3. For $700 raised, you’ll receive a snazzy BLACK bow tie, and an entry into the Penguin Package drawing to win :

• - Virginia Beach Plunge : a $100 Wal-Mart gift card and one hotel voucher
• - Northern Virginia Plunge : a $100 Wal-Mart gift card
• - Richmond Plunge : a $100 Wal-Mart gift card
• - Southwest Virginia Plunge : a $100 Wal-Mart gift card

4. For $1,000 raised, you’ll earn a ICE BLUE bow tie, and entry into the Walrus Package drawing for a chance to win :

• - Virginia Beach Plunge : four Water Country Fun Cards and a hotel voucher
• - Northern Virginia Plunge : four one day passes to Kings Dominion
• - Richmond Plunge : four Water Country Fun Cards
• - Southwest Virginia Plunge : four Water Country Fun Cards

5. Raise $1,500 in donations, and you’ll get a WHITE bow tie to show off, and an entry into the Polar Bear Package drawing to potentially take home :

• - Virginia Beach Plunge : four Busch Gardens fun cards and two hotel vouchers
• - Northern Virginia Plunge : four Busch Gardens fun cards
• - Richmond Plunge : four Busch Gardens fun cards
• - Southwest Virginia Plunge : four Busch Gardens fun cards

6. If the generosity of your friends and family pushes you past $2,500 in donations, you’ll be granted a prestigious SILVER bow tie, and entry into a drawing to win :

• - Virginia Beach Plunge : a two night stay for up to four guests at the Great Wolf Lodge and two hotel vouchers
• - Northern Virginia Plunge : a two night stay for up to four guests at the Great Wolf Lodge
• - Richmond Plunge : a two night stay for up to four guests at the Great Wolf Lodge
• - Southwest Virginia Plunge : a two night stay for up to four guests at the Great Wolf Lodge

7. Finally, at the pinnacle of Plunge success, raising $5,000 or more will earn you the hallowed GOLD bow tie, and entry into a drawing for :

• - Virginia Beach Plunge : an Over the Edge Spot with Helmet Cam and two hotel vouchers
• - Northern Virginia Plunge : a $250 Wal-Mart gift card
• - Richmond Plunge : an Over the Edge Spot with Helmet Cam
• - Southwest Virginia Plunge : an Over the Edge Spot with Helmet Cam

Participation in the Polar Plunge isn’t limited to the brave (or crazy!) souls that desire to dash into the freezing waters of the ocean on event day. Plenty of volunteer positions are open as well, to assist with everything from registration before the event to cleaning up after it.

Companies can support the Plunge by acting as Sponsors of the event, earning great recognition for their brand and potentially creating a unique team-building experience for their employees. Businesses can also sign up to be vendors at the events to present their products to hundreds or thousands of new customers. Even famous personalities from different fields participated in the Plunge. Some of them include Lady Gaga, Vince Vaughn, David Eigenberg, Brian Geraghty and many more. Now it’s your turn to brave the cold, that too for a great cause!

No matter how you participate, you’ll be contributing to a great cause in the Special Olympics of Virginia, and guaranteeing yourself one outrageously fun and rewarding chilly day in the waters of Virginia. Start your Polar Plunge journey!