Frequently Asked Questions
Online Registration
- What are the benefits of registering for the Plunge online?
- I forgot my password. What should I do?
- I forgot my User Name. What should I do?
- I accidentally registered twice. What should I do?
- Does each person who registers online need a different User Name?
- Does each person who registers online need a different e-mail address?
- Is my Plunge time guaranteed now that I've registered online?
- I'm registered online. Why do I need to stop by the check-in table at the Plunge or attend a pre-registration/check-in event?
- I never received an e-mail after registering online. How do I know I'm registered?
- How do I add a or change photo to my online Pledge page?
- Where did my Plunge picture go?
Team Online Registration
- I need to register my whole team. Can I just submit one registration?
- Can I register for more than one team?
- I'm registered as a Team Captain for one team, but I need to join a different team. What should I do?
- How do I ask people to join my team?
- Do all my team members need to be registered online?
- Do I need to be on a team to take the Plunge?
- How do I change my team name or add a team picture?
- Where did my Plunge team picture go?
Online Pledges/Donations
- How can I tell my friends and family how to pledge to me online?
- Can I enter pledges that I have received in cash or check to my online total?
- How quickly can I expect an online donation to be posted on my Plunger Web Page?
- I am missing a donation that was made online. What should I do?
- Can team members share an online donation?
- I can't participate in the Polar Plunge I registered for. What happens to the donations I've received?
- A donor wants a receipt. What should I do?
- A donor would like a tax ID number. What is it and how can I get it?
- Are donations tax deductible?
- What credit cards are accepted in the Secure Pledge Site?
- Is there a pledge form that I can use for cash and check pledges?
- How can I thank donors who have pledged to me online?
- I have pledges on the internet and cash and checks. How will people working at the Polar Plunge know how much money I have raised?
General Plunge Questions
- What is the Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics?
- How did the Polar Plunge begin?
- Who can participate?
- How can my corporation get involved?
- What are this year's incentive levels and prizes?
- Am I guaranteed to receive my incentives when I turn in my money?
- Where can I find more information about my specific Plunge?
- Why should I sign up as "Too Chicken to Plunge"?
1: What are the benefits of registering for the Plunge online?
By registering online for the Polar Plunge, you can create your own Web page and accept online credit card pledges. Your Plunge Web page can be personalized with a picture and message from you.
You can also see a record of each pledge you have received online and who it is from. Your Web page has tools that will help you raise pledges including an e-mail form that directs people to your own donation page.
2: I forgot my password. What should I do?
Use this form to retrieve a lost password. If you are still unable to retrieve your password, contact info@specialolympicswisconsin.org or call Andrea Wetzel at (800) 552-1324 Ext. 207.
3: I forgot my User Name. What should I do?
To retrieve a lost User Name, contact info@specialolympicswisconsin.org or call Andrea Wetzel at (800) 552-1324 Ext. 207.
4: I accidentally registered twice. What should I do?
In order to properly track your online pledges, it is best that you only have one online registration record. (unless you are Plunging at more than one location or joining more than one team)
If you have accidentally registered for a Plunge twice, please contact info@specialolympicswisconsin.org or call Andrea Wetzel at (800) 552-1324 Ext. 207 and one of the records will be deleted. Pledges linked to the deleted account can be credited to the active account.
5: Does each person who registers online need a different User Name?
Yes. Each Plunger must have a unique User Name to register online in order for the Plunge Web site to work properly.
6: Does each person who registers online need a different E-mail address?
No. Because some people share an e-mail address, more than one person can register with the same e-mail address.
7: Is my Plunge time guaranteed now that I've registered online?
No. If your local Plunge organizers assign Plunge times, you will need to attend a pre-registration event or stop by the registration table the day of the Plunge and sign up for a time. Contact your local Plunge office for more information.
8: I'm registered online. Why do I need to stop by the check-in table at the Plunge or attend a pre-registration/check-in event?
All Plungers must either stop by the registration table on the day of the Plunge or attend a pre-registration event to turn in pledges, sign a waiver and pick up incentives.
9: I never received an e-mail after registering online. How do I know I'm registered?
Either Log In using your user name and password, contact info@specialolympicswisconsin.org or call Andrea Wetzel at (800) 552-1324 Ext. 207.
The online registration confirmation e-mail is generated automatically and may be filtered by your e-mail program as spam.
10: How do I add or change a photo to my online Pledge page?
Log in to manage your Plunge Web page. Under "Update your photo" click on "Browse" to choose a photo file from your computer. Then click on "Update Photo". Photos must be jpg format and under 2 MB.
11: Where did my Plunge picture go?
Special Olympics Wisconsin closely monitors all pictures uploaded to the Polar Plunge Web site. We reserve the right to delete any inappropriate content including pictures.
12: I need to register my whole team. Can I just submit one registration?
No. Online Plunge registration is set up for each participant. Each Plunger should have a unique User Name and Password so he or she can raise pledges online.
13: Can I register for more than one team? Can I Plunge at more than one location?
If you would like to Plunge twice with two different teams and collect money online for each team, you need to register for the Plunge online twice and maintain both sets of user names and passwords.
This also applies if you would like to take the Plunge at more than one location.
14: I'm registered as a Team Captain for one team, but I need to join a different team. What should I do?
Contact Andrea Wetzel at (800) 552-1324 Ext. 207or e-mail info@specialolympicswisconsin.org to delete a team or change a team's registered team captain.
15: How do I ask people to join my team?
You can ask people to join your team online by directing them to your Team's Plunge page. Team pages can be found using this search page.
16: Do all my team members need to be registered online?
No. Each Plunge will have a record of Plungers who have registered online, but Plungers can still register the day of the Plunge or at a pre-registration event.
However, we highly recommend registering for the Plunge online so Plungers are able to get credit card donations online, use e-mail tools to send messages to their friends and family and track their pledges online. Also, Plungers who register online are able to receive important information from their local Plunge office prior to the Plunge.
17: Do I need to be on a team to take the Plunge?
No.
18: How do I change my team name, fundraising goal or add a team picture?
Only the person registered online as the Team Captain can edit the team name, fundraising goal and upload a team picture. If you are the team captain, log into your Plunger Web page and choose the "Edit your team page" button.
19: Where did my Plunge Team picture go?
Special Olympics Wisconsin closely monitors all pictures uploaded to the Polar Plunge Web site. We reserve the right to delete any inappropriate content including pictures.
20: How can I tell my friends and family how to pledge to me online?
Use the Plunge e-mail Tool (Log In Required) to send a message to your friends and family and direct them to your personal pledge page.
Your personal pledge page can also be found if someone searches for you using the Plunger Search Form.
21: Can I enter pledges that I have received in cash or check to my online total?
Yes. First, log in to manage your Web site. Under "cash/check pledges" choose "update this amount" and use the form to add a total amount of pledges you have received in cash or check form. If you'd like, you can list pledges that you've received by check or cash in your personal message on your Web page
Note: this amount is only for your Web site. Plunge volunteers and staff will count your cash and check pledges prior to you receiving incentive prizes.
22: How quickly can I expect an online donation to be posted on my Plunger Web page?
Donations should be posted to your Plunger Web page immediately after the online pledge is submitted.
23: I am missing a donation that was made online. What should I do?
If you don't see a donation, first try to refresh, or reload your browser (hit F5). If you still do not see the donation, contact Andrea Wetzel at (800) 552-1324 Ext. 207 or e-mail info@specialolympicswisconsin.org.
24: Can team members share an online donation?
No. Donations can only be made in the name of an individual Plunger.
25: I can't participate in the Polar Plunge I registered for. What happens to the donations I've received?
Online donations received will be credited to your local Special Olympics Wisconsin office. If you have raised enough pledges to be eligible for an incentive, you can still receive that incentive. Contact your local Plunge office for more information.
26: A donor wants a receipt. What should I do?
If a donor pledges to you online, he or she will receive an e-mail receipt if he or she provided a valid e-mail address. To request an additional receipt, contact your local Plunge office.
27: A donor would like a tax ID number. How can I get it?
Call 1-800-552-1324 Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CST
28: Are donations tax deductible?
Yes. Donors who pledge to you online receive an e-mail receipt if they type in a valid e-mail address which can be used for tax purposes. To receive a paper receipt, contact your local Plunge office.
29: What credit cards are accepted in the Secure Pledge Site?
Visa, Mastercard and Discover
30: Is there a pledge form that I can use for cash and check pledges?
Yes. You can print out a pledge form and use it to track your cash and check pledges. Then you can turn this in at the Plunge registration the day of the Plunge or at a pre-registration event.
31: How can I thank donors who have pledged to me online?
If the donor provides an e-mail address during the online pledge process, this e-mail address will appear next to his or her donation on your online donation page so you can send them a personal thank you.
32: I have pledges on the internet and cash and checks. How will people working at the Polar Plunge know how much money I have raised?
At the Polar Plunge on-site check in and pre-registration (check-in) events, volunteers and staff will have a list of all Plungers registered online including the total amount of pledges they have received online. Please print out and bring a copy of your online donations to make sure that you receive credit for pledges that may come in after the staff has printed their reports.
Online pledging will continue through March 2010, however incentives will be determined based on the amount raised prior to the Plunge.
33: What is the Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics?
The Polar Plunge is the largest fundraising effort benefiting Special Olympics Wisconsin in the state. Participants collect pledges and Plunge into the frigid waters of Wisconsin. All proceeds collected by Plungers local benefit Special Olympics athletes.
Special Olympics Wisconsin Mission: To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with cognitive disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
34: How did the Polar Plunge begin?
Based on an idea from an International Law Enforcement Torch Run® conference in Alaska, the Plunge started in La Crosse, Wis. in 1999 and experienced huge success by raising over $30,000. In 2000, four more Special Olympics Wisconsin Areas joined La Crosse's efforts and began Plunges of their own with great success. This year, Special Olympics Wisconsin is holding ten Plunges state wide in hopes to raise $1 million for Special Olympics athletes.
Anyone with a little guts and a warm heart wanting to support Special Olympics athletes is welcome to participate. In past years, participants have included seven-year-olds to 70-year-olds, congressmen and mayors, police chiefs and officers, company teams, dogs, mothers, high school clubs, fraternities and everyone in between. And for the more hesitant souls, there is always plenty of room for watching and cheering.
36. How can my corporation get involved?
Monetary and in-kind support is always needed to operate an event this large. Please contact the Special Olympics Office in your area to discuss becoming a Polar Plunge Sponsor, how to form a Plunge team with your employees or how to provide matching gifts for Plungers.
37: What are this year's Incentive levels and prizes?
This year's incentive levels and prizes can be found on the following page: http://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/Plunge_incentives.html
38: Am I guaranteed to receive my incentives when I turn in my money?
No. We try to order enough incentives to cover all the Plungers who participate, however if there is a large spike in participant numbers, we may not have everyone's incentives available on site. If you do not receive your incentives the day of the Plunge, they will be shipped to you shortly after the event.. Incentives will be determined based on the amount of money turned in up to the day of the Plunge.
39: Where can I find more information about my specific Plunge?
Information about each Plunge can be found here: http://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/pp10/Plunge_offices.asp
40: Why should I sign up as "Too Chicken to Plunge"?
Too chicken to Plunge? No problem...you can still be a part of the fun! Simply register as a chicken, raise pledges, and receive incentives just like a regular plunger except no going into the icy water. It’s a fun way to still be a part of a team while still doing something crazy. Each Plunge location offers something silly to recognize these frozen chickens.