SAN FRANCISCO – On Saturday, Feb. 23, hundreds of Northern Californians – including San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr, Santa Clara Police Captain Dan Winter along with local news personalities Juliette Goodrich and John Sasaki – will brave the chilly and choppy waters of the San Francisco Bay – all in the name of Special Olympics. Donned in costumes but without the protection of wet suits, Special Olympics athletes and their supporters will jump into winter-chilled waters of the San Francisco Bay at Aquatic Park for the San Francisco Polar Plunge, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Northern California in its sixth year.
What: Special Olympics Northern California 5K Run/Walk and Polar Plunge
Who: Approximately 150 runners and 1,000 Polar Plungers including San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr, Santa Clara Police Captain Dan Winter, Special Olympics Northern California CEO & President Rick Collett, local news personalities Juliette Goodrich and John Sasaki, teams from law enforcement agencies and schools across Northern California and corporate teams from Allegis Group, Google, AT&T, Coca-Cola with the collective fundraising goal of $352,000.
When: Saturday, Feb. 23
Where: San Francisco Historic National Maritime Park (Aquatic Park)
Registration: iPolarPlunge.com
Sponsors: CBS5, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and Concord Honda
Press Kit: www.sonc.org/about/press-information
Event Photos: Flickr.com/SONorCal
Photo Credit: KLC fotos
Plungers are encouraged to wear costumes and asked to raise a minimum of $125 – which provides, at no cost to the Special Olympics athlete, one season of sports instruction and competition. One of Special Olympics Northern California’s preeminent events, the San Francisco Polar Plunge raises funds that directly allow Northern California Special Olympics athletes to participate in regional, national and international competitions all the while promoting acceptance, building bonds of friendship and unity and creating lifelong memories.
San Francisco Polar Plunge Schedule
8 a.m.: 5K run/walk day-of registration opens
9:20 a.m.: Law Enforcement Torch Run to kick off 5K run/walk
9:30 a.m.: 5K run/walk starts
10 a.m.: Plunge day-of registration opens
11:30 a.m.: Costume judging
Noon: PLUNGE!
1 p.m.: Post-Polar Plunge party
The San Francisco Polar Plunge is one of nine Polar Plunge events hosted by Special Olympics Northern California – Fresno, Fort Bragg, Kelseyville, North Lake Tahoe, Santa Cruz, South Lake Tahoe, Ukiah and Weed. For more information or to register to take the Polar Plunge, please visit iPolarPlunge.com. In 2012, the Polar Plunges had more than 1,300 Plungers, who rose over $430,000 for the athletes of the Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada. Special Olympics Northern California is supported entirely by events like the Polar Plunge, local business and individual gifts, and does not receive any state or federal funding.
About Special Olympics Northern California
Created in 1995, Special Olympics Northern California provides athletic opportunities for more than 15,700 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, instilling the confidence they need to succeed in life. Each year, Special Olympics Northern California hosts 154 athletic competitions throughout the region in 11 different sports in addition to competitions in K-12 schools. Donations to Special Olympics Northern California give athletes the ability to train and compete at no cost to the athlete.