Oshkosh Polar Plunge
Lake Winnebago/American Legion, 1393 Washington Ave., Oshkosh
Date: February 23, 2008

Thank you to the 1085 plungers who helped raise $201,000 in the Oshkosh Polar Plunge.
Plunge DVD’s can still be purchased Click here for an order form.
Photos & Video
- Check out Plunge photos from IPI Event Photography
- More Plunge Photos (posted 2-28)
- Photos from UW Oshkosh today
- Photos from The Oshkosh Nortwestern
- Video from The Oshkosh Northwestern
Top Fundraising Teams
$9,725.00 Neenah Papers
$7,071.00 Dodge County Ice Breakers
$4,005.90 Jumpin’ JRG Gators
$3,409.00 Fox Cities Foxz Roller Derby
$3,310.00 Strategies Ltd
$3,304.00 UW-Oshkosh Newman Center
$3,202.00 Oshkosh Police Department –CRT
$3,125.00 Menasha High School Staff-Geriatric Jumpers
$2,945.00 McMahon Group
$2,746.00 Stumpf Creative Landscaping
$2,617.00 Oshkosh Police Department Negotiators
Top Individual Fundraisers
$6,076.00 Ron Ebben
$3,394.00 Terry Olson
$2,746.00 Tina Stumpf
$2,113.00 Chad Kasper
$1,856.00 Bill Ebben
$1,636.00 Doug Dobbe
$1,610.00 Don Wilson
$1,550.00 Jerry Franklin
$1,520.00 Dean Spoehr
$1,345.00 Diane Putzer
$1305.00 Joe Framke
$1,276.00 Joel Sember
$1,178.00 Jerome O’Neil
$1,111.00 Malinda Fuerstenau
$1,060.00 Major Anderson
$1,054.00 Doug Weigman
$1,050.00 Michelle Diener
$1,008.00 John Heinz
$1,004.00 Melissa Schinker
$1,000.00 Christopher Bader
Plunge Contest Winners
Most Money Raised by Team: Neenah Papers
Most Money Raised Female: Tina Stumpf
Most Money Raised Male: Ron Ebben
Best Plungewear Female: Emily Mimier
Best Plungewear Male: Mark Buchanan
Best Adult Group Plunge: Appleton Police Department
Best Youth Group Plunge: The ARC Fox Cities
Onsite Registration: 10am-1:30pm in registration tent
Plunging: Noon-2:30pm
Parking
Shuttles from UW-Oshkosh Reeve Union and Menominee Park to Plunge site running every 30 minutes from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Shuttles running from Menominee Park will make pick ups at the boat launch area at Millers Bay as well as pick up plungers as the buses make the loop through the park.
NEW POST PLUNGE PARTY!!
At Pete’s Garage in Oshkosh
Located at 1514 Oregon St.
3:00 PM—5:00 PM or laterWin COUNTRY USA tickets
Drink Specials including: $1.50 Domestic bottles and pints and rail mixers! Beads, Prizes, and Fun!
Plunge keep your wristbands on for special perks! Take the shuttle bus leaving from the Plunge at 3:00 PM and head for the party at Pete’s Garage. Shuttle will return to Plunge Site, Menominee Park parking areas and Reeve Union to drop off riders at approx. 5:00 PM
Pre-Registration
Attend a pre-registration event to avoid lines on the day of the Polar Plunge. Just bring your pledges and registration form. If you registered using the website we will have record of pledges raised online.
At
pre-registration you will pick up your incentive prizes, sign your waiver & choose your "plunge" time. (Waivers can be downloaded and brought with you. Minors MUST have a parent/guardian signature on waiver.)
Download a waiver.
Pre-Registration Events
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Wednesday, Feb. 20, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - UW-Oshkosh-Reeve Union
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Wednesday, Feb. 20, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Special Olympics office located at 2339 W. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton
- Friday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. - American Legion in the registration tent
New Team Prizes
Teams raising over $2,500.00 will win a team party!
Your choice of:
- Hot Wing Party at a participating location
- 1/4 Barrel Party (Team members MUST be over 21)
- Pizza Party at Pizza Hut
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 immediately following the event.
Post Plunge Party & Entertainment
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Live Entertainment by RPM from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
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Live Entertainment by magician Mike Schroeder inside Entertainment Tent during band breaks.
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Concessions, beverages, souvenirs, individual and team “Plunging” photos & auction items all under huge heated entertainment tent.
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NEW get your 2008 souvenir mug inside the Entertainment Tent!
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NEW! Post Party following the Polar Plunge-location to be announced!
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NEW! Family Tent-just off the main Entertainment Tent. Magician Mike Schroeder will perform throughout the day, kids can meet McGruff the Crime Dog and other Mascots, and kids activities! Check back for more details!
Contest Categories:
- Most Money Raised Male & Female
- Most Money Raised Team
- Most Original Plungewear Male & Female
- Most Original Plungewear Youth Group
- Most Original Plungewear - Group
*Winners announced in Entertainment Tent at conclusion of plunging (approx. 3pm)
Need Help Raising Pledges?
Plungers can contact Special Olympics at 920-731-1614 and request a set of paper Polar Bears which can be sold for $1.00 each at area businesses. Each $1.00 raised can be added to your pledges. Special Olympics has Polar Bear kits that provides business owners with all the instructions to participate. Each plunger is responsible for picking up proceeds before the event. Proceeds raised by polar bear sale MUST be turned in on the day of the event.
Tips to help form your Plunge team
Steps to forming a successful Plunge team
Join our Team printable cards
Video Online
See footage of the 2007 Oshkosh Polar Plunge
Hotels and Lodging
Friday Night Room Special, February 22nd - Park Plaza Hotel
- $50.00 Room Special.
- Call 920-231-5000 to reserve a room.
- Park Plaza is just minutes from the Polar Plunge. Located at 1 N Main St. in Oshkosh.
RAISE PLEDGES ON-LINE AND WIN
POLAR PLUNGE VIP PACKAGE!!
Beginning the week of January 21st, all your hard work raising pledges could make you a winner! Raise $100 on-line in pledges you will be entered to win one of five Polar Plunge VIP Packages to include everything you need on the day of the Polar Plunge to have a blast! Start raising pledges now!
The Polar Plunge VIP Package will include:
- A VIP Parking Pass
- Preferential Plunge Time
- 2 lunches
- 2 drinks
- $10 gift certificate to be used for Polar Plunge souvenirs
- Polar Plunge VIP beads
- A Polar Plunge drawstring bag and Survival Kit including hand warmers, a disposable camera and official Polar Plunge stocking hat
Every week leading up to the Polar Plunge, a winner will be drawn! Once you hit the $100 mark your name will go into the drawing and stay in week after week. For each additional $100 you raise you name will go into the drawing again and again. Plungers who have raised $100 before the contest starts will automatically be entered into the drawing. Winners will be notified each week!
Raising pledges on-line is safe, easy to do and has many benefits. You don’t have to hold on to cash for weeks, your donors are instantly e-mailed an official receipt which they can use as a tax deduction, and research shows that donors are more likely to make a larger pledge to you if they are using their credit card.
To raise pledges on-line follow these steps:
- Click here to log on to your Polar Plunge personal webpage
- Click on “E-mail Friends and Family”
- Enter the e-mail addresses of friends, family members, co-workers, etc.
- Personalize the e-mail message if desired
- Click on “Send E-mail”
- Check your web page to see a detailed list of all pledges received
Volunteers needed!

Reminders
- All plungers must wear shoes
- Bring large towel & change of clothes
- Bring plastic bag for wet clothing
For more information contact
Nicci Sprangers
Phone: (920) 731-1614
E-mail: nsprangers@specialolympicswisconsin.org
2339 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Appleton , WI 54914
Statewide Plunge Partner
Event Partners
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Media Partners
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Hot Tubs Provided By
2008 Polar Plunge Links
- Register online
- Search for a Plunger to pledge to
- Search for a team
- Update your Web page & view your online pledges







