Oshkosh Polar Plunge

New Location: Menominee Park, Miller's Bay - Hazel Ave & Merritt St, Oshkosh
Date: February 21, 2009

This year about 1,647 Plungers raised $294,000 for Special Olympics. Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2009 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Wisconsin.

Photos

• Photos from IPI Wisconsin (click on a time slot)
• Photos from Oshkosh Nortwestern - Album #1 | Album #2
• More photos of Plungers and Pee Wee Plungers

2009 Video

• Oshkosh Plunge video
  
• Pee Wee Plunge video
  
• Plunge Video Playlists on YouTube
  Have a video you want to share? E-mail us with a link.

Plunger videos

• WIXX PLUNGE TRIBUTE
• Oakhill Correctional Institution Sgts
• Trinity Lutheran Oshkosh 8th grade

 

Top Fundraising Teams

1. Evil Roy Slades $10,153.00
2. Dodge County Ice Breakers $9,351.80
3. Strategies $5,789.00
4. GE Oil & Gas $5,075.00
5. Theda Care at Home $4,365.00
6. Neenah Papers $4,312.00
7. Kwik Trip $4,189.55
8. Oshkosh Police $3,753.00
9. Marian University Science & Math Assoc. $3,528.00
10. Pete’s Garage Bar $3,453.00

Top High School Team

Oshkosh West HS-O’Neil National Honor Society $3,428.00

Top College Team

Marian University Science and Math Assoc. $3,528.00

Top Individual Fundraisers

Top Male – Jason Lindemann $3,500.00
Top Female – Julie Rometti-Llewellyn $1,721.00

1. Jason Lindemann $3,500.00
2. Adam Mueller $3,443.00
3. Doug Dobbe $2,625.00
4. Mito Kudaka $2,260.00
5. Ron Ebben $2,232.00
6. Greg Duerr $2,127.00
7. Greg Heiniman $1,854.00
8. Fr. Joel Sember $1,823.00
9. Julie Rometti-Llewellyn $1,721.00
10. Ryan Wettstein $1,700.10
11. Terry Olson $1,580.00
12. Christopher Bader $1,560.00
13. Carl Fuerstenau $1,517.00
14. Malinda Fuerstenau $1,513.80

Top Chicken Fundraisers

1. Donna Schott $625.00
2. Joanie Johnson $535.00
3. Mark Lillge $490.00
4. Jennifer Fuerstenau $361.00
5. Pam Ludowese $360.00

Top Pee Wee Plunge Fundraisers

1. Morgan Buman $354.00
2. Lindsay Tippins $280.00
3. Dane Framke $205.00
4. Blake Framke $185.00
5. Jakob Zehner $175.00

Best Costumes

• Best Team Costume – Strategies - “Reinactment of the Winning Touched Scoted in the 1967 Famous Ice Bowl”
• Best Youth Team Costume – Nick and the Pinheads -7 Bowling Pins
• Best Female Costume – Mahala Resop - Monkey
• Best Male Costume – Steve Maskim – Teen Wolf goes Bahama

 

Plunging: Noon - 2:30 p.m.
Day of registration: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. in registration tent

Download and print a pledge form

 

Pre-Registration

• Friday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Menominee at Park inside the Registration Tent

• Wednesday, February 18th - 10:00 AM-2:00 PM at UW-Oshkosh. Reeve Union, Room 214  

Avoid lines on the day of the Plunge, turn in pledges, pick up incentive prizes, & choose your Plunge time. All team members must sign a waiver. Click here to download a waiver

Driving Directions

Menominee Park - Oshkosh, WI

From the North

Take Hwy 41 to Oshkosh exit on Jackson St. Follow Jackson St. all the way down to Murdock and take a left on Murdock. Follow Murdock to Hazel and take a right on Hazel. Follow Hazel to signs for Polar Plunge Parking

From the South

Take Hwy 41 take the 9th Avenue Exit. Follow 9th Ave. to Main St. Take a left on Main St. Follow Main St. to Merritt Ave. Take a right on Merritt Ave. Follow Merritt Ave. to Hazel and take a left on Hazel. Follow Hazel to signs for Polar Plunge Parking.

Polar Plunge Party

Time: 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Live entertainment by RPM and concessions under huge heated entertainment tent.

Post Plunge Party at Evil Roy Slades!!!

4:00 PM at Evil Roy Slades located at 110 W 7th Ave. in Oshkosh. Buy a one of the 16 oz Flashing Polar Plunge Mugs and get your first drink free at the Post Plunge Party. Happy Hour prices 3:00 – 6:00 PM. Live Entertainment beginning at 4:00 PM.

Evil Roy Slades raised over $9,000 to win the Post Plunge Party!!!!

Buffalo Wild Wings presents the Blazin’ Challenge!

Are you afraid of the COLD?? Buffalo Wild Wings will bring the HEAT! Sign up now for the Blazin’ Wing Challenge! To reserve your spot for this heated wing eating contest please e-mail your name, address and age to nsprangers@specialolympicswisconsin.org. The first 50 entries will be accepted. There is no cost to enter. The contest will take place near the main entertainment stage inside the Entertainment Tent at approx. 1:00 PM. Contestants must check-in at the Buffalo Wild Wings table located near the state by 12:00 PM to confirm entry and sign waiver. Rules will be provided upon check-in. Winner will take home an awesome prize package from Buffalo Wild Wings.

NEW! Family Entertainment Tent

Now there is a place at the Polar Plunge that is just for families to come and have fun! Being cooped up all winter long is no fun! Come out to the Polar Plunge and watch all the brave souls take the plunge and then come inside the HEATED Family Fun Tent for games, inflatbles, face painting, play-doh, crafts, and PRIZES! Also see the Magic of Mike Schroeder through the day live inside the Family Fun Tent!

NEW Pee Wee Plunge

Don’t miss the Pee Wee Plunge inside the HEATED Family Entertainment Tent at 12:30 PM! The Pee Wee Plunge is open to kids 12 and under. Kids will take the Plunge into a 25” deep kiddie pool that is lightly sprinkled with ice cubes and rubber ducks. Parents can assist their children and be a part of the fun! The kids can pick a rubber duck on their way out and check the bottom for a number that corresponds to a prize!

Pee Wee Plungers should raise $75 in pledges and will take home the official Pee Wee Plunge t-shirt, Pee Wee Plunge Certificate and a goodie bag. Pee Wees can earn more Polar Plunge incentives just like our regular Plungers as they raise additional pledges.  Participants are encouraged to dress in costumes and come in Pee Wee Teams. There will be prizes awarded for Best Pee Wee Costume, Most Money Rasied by a Pee Wee and Best Pee Wee Plunge Team.

Children interested in the Pee Wee Plunge should register just like any other Polar Plunge Participant would by using the on-line registration or the Polar Plunge brochure. IMPORTANT: There is no box to check on the registration form to identify participants as Pee Wee Plungers. On the day of the Polar Plunge, Pee Wee Plungers will need to come through the Registration Tent to check-in. Upon check-in on the day of the event children will notify registration staff that they are signing up for the Pee Wee Plunge. Each Pee Wee Plunger must have a parent or guardian sign the event waiver. The waiver can be downloaded and brought with you on the day of the event.

TEAMS – Everything You Need to Know!

Click here to download the Team Survival Kit including: receipts for your donors, business cards you can personalize to steer people to donate to you on-line, a sample donation letter, tips of fun fundraising ideas, tips for forming a successful team and more.

Win the Team VIP Package!
This year your team can win a VIP Bus to pick you up from your hometown and bring your team to and from the Polar Plunge. You will also receive a gift card to stock your bus with goodies!! When you arrive at the Polar Plunge your team will receive $100 Plunge Bucks and your choice of a preferred plunge Time!!  The Polar Plunge Team that registers on-line and raises the MOST PLEDGES ON-LINE by February 11th will win! Only pledges raised on-line will count toward this contest.

Team Prizes

Teams raising over $2,500.00 will win a team party sponsored by Winger’s and Polito’s Pizza

Your choice of:

• Hot Wing Party at a participating location
• 1/4 Barrel Party (Team members MUST be over 21)
• Pizza Party

Team totals will be tallied after event for accuracy, on-line pledges, cash, check and matching corporate gifts will all count toward your team total. All team members MUST use the exact same team name and MUST list team name on web site and on all pledge sheets and registration forms. Any teams members who fail to do so will NOT count toward team pledges total. Teams will receive certificate by mail following the event.

GET YOUR POLAR BEARS NOW! – Businesses sell them for $1 for YOU!

Plungers can contact Special Olympics at 920-731-1614 or nsprangers@specialolympicswisconsin.org and request a Polar Bear Icon Kit which contains paper polar bears which can be sold for $1.00 each at area businesses and count toward your pledges! The paper polar bears are FREE to our plungers and come in sets of sets of 25, 50 or 100.  Each $1.00 raised can be added to your pledges. The Polar Bear kits provide business owners with all the instructions to participate. Each plunger is responsible for picking up proceeds before the event and turning the money in with your pledges. Proceeds raised by polar bear sale MUST be turned in on the day of the event.

What to Expect at the Polar Plunge

As the event nears you should begin to make plans for the day of the Polar Plunge.Think about where you want everyone on your team to meet on the day of the Plunge. It is very busy at the event and will be hard to locate team members.

All teams must check-in inside the Registration Tent when arriving at the Polar Plunge!  At check-in you will turn in registration forms and pledges, sign the release waiver and sign up for your Plunge Time. IMPORTANT! If you have team members that are UNDER 18 they must bring their waiver signed by a parent or guardian.  Registration begins at 10:00 AM on the day of the event. This is also where you will receive your incentive prizes based on the pledges you raised.

Attending a Pre-Registration Event will save you from waiting in any lines on the day of the event. Pre-Registration dates and locations will be listed on the website. Only one team member needs to attend the Pre-Registration event to check-in your team, but they must bring each team member’s:registration form, pledges, and signed release of liability waiver. Click here to download a waiver ( If you have team members under 18, they must have parent/guardian sign this waiver)

TAKING THE PLUNGE

Once you receive your Plunge time there is no need to wait in long lines out in the cold. You can make yourself comfortable inside the heated tents until it is 10 minutes before your Plunge time! At Plunge time you will make your way outside to the Polar Plunge On-Deck area. Once you are inside the On-Deck area it will be only a matter of minutes before you take the Plunge! You will be plunging into a hole that has been cut out of the ice. The depth of the water is approximately waist deep so you don’t have to go all the way under if you don’t want to, but we recommend full body submersion!  There will be volunteers in wet suits in the water to assist you.

Important things to remember for the big day!

There will be heated changing tents provided for you before and after you Plunge. There will be no lockers to keep your belongings in while you plunge so bring a backpack or duffle bag to keep your things with you. There will be tables by the Plunging area in which volunteers will watch your items while you are Plunging. Each of your team members must wear shoes while plunging. Remind each team member to bring plastic bags along to put your wet clothing in after you plunge. Hot tubs will be provided for warming up after your team plunges.

Parking

Available throughout Menominee Park. Shuttles from UW-Oshkosh Reeve Union and throughout Menominee Park to Plunge site: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Reminders

• All plungers must wear shoes
• Bring large towel & change of clothes
• Bring plastic bag for wet clothing

Volunteers Needed!

Click here to download a volunteer form for volunteer needs / opportunities for the 2009 Polar Plunge.

For more information contact
Nicci Sprangers
Phone: (920) 731-1614
E-mail: nsprangers@specialolympicswisconsin.org
2339 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Appleton , WI 54914  

2009 Polar Plunge Links

• Register online
• Search for a Plunger to pledge to
• Search for a team
• Update your Web page & view your online pledges