Go Where No Packer Fan Has Gone Before

Whether you are a diehard football fan or cause-conscious thrill seeker, Special Olympics Wisconsin is offering Packer fans the chance to do what no Packer fan has ever done before - take the Ultimate Lambeau Leap on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011.

Across the state, thousands of warm-hearted leaped into frozen bodies of water to support the 10,000 athletes of Special Olympics Wisconsin by taking part in the 2011 Polar Plunge® winter fundraiser. Since 1999, nearly 70,000 brave souls have raised more than $12 million by jumping into Wisconsin’s frigid lakes and rivers, enabling athletes with cognitive disabilities to train and compete in 18 different Olympic-type sports.

As they watch hundreds of snowflakes dance across the sky and frost the frozen lake with a snowy icing, the ice fishermen at Miller's Bay savor the tranquility of their sport. But for one special day each winter, they move their shanties aside, let shrieks of laughter shatter the silence, and watch thousands of thrill-seekers join the fish in the frigid waters for the Oshkosh Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Wisconsin.

In 1986, compassion, joy and hope ignited a movement among law enforcement to spread awareness of individuals with cognitive disabilities. That eternal flame burns with even more vigor today as Special Olympics Wisconsin celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. For John and Carol Graham, 2011 also marks their 25th year of service to this movement as well as an opportunity to honor their daughter, Brooke, who recently passed away unexpectedly.

Local law enforcement will trade in their handcuffs and badges for aprons and gourmet burgers at participating Red Robin® restaurants in Wisconsin as part of the national Tip-A-Cop® event benefiting Special Olympics. Law enforcement in 35 states will collect tips and help serve Red Robin restaurant guests from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 26.

While many local families bundle up in cozy scarves and woolly mittens before stepping outside to brace the blustery winter air, hundreds of others across the state are leaping into the frigid waters of Wisconsin.

Do you shiver at the thought of icy cold water? Sign up as a chicken! You can observe the chaos while sipping hot cocoa, warmed by the knowledge that your donation helped give Special Olympics athletes across the state the chance to participate in 18 year-round sports.
 

Rappel down a skyscraper? How far would you go to support your favorite cause? These days, taking a fundraising risk involves more than cooking up a new recipe for the local bake sale. Supporters are upping the ante with a new wave of intense, off-the-wall, money-making techniques that not only make you check your health insurance policy, but also force donors to open their checkbooks and empty their wallets. It's called extreme fundraising...and 21-year-old Wisconsin Rapids native, Ben Holberg just joined the ranks.
 

Tune into the People's Choice Awards which airs LIVE this Wednesday night on CBS at 8 PM CST for an in-show moment encouraging viewers to support Special Olympics Team USA as they prepare for the 2011 World Summer Games in Greece. Thanks to P&G for this opportunity!

Read more about Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes and coaches who will be attending World Games

Keep an eye out for your P&GbrandSAVER coupon books in your local newspaper on Sunday, December 26, 2010. This year’s promotion is based on coupon redemption: Special Olympics receives 3 cents for every coupon used. There is no limit to the gift, so the more you redeem the coupons or encourage your friends and family the greater the money raised for Special Olympics.