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Thank you for Taking the Plunge!

This year's 10 Polar Plunges were a huge success with 6228 Plungers raising over $1.1 Million Dollars for Special Olympics Wisconsin! This year marked the 10th Polar Plunge in La Crosse and some Super Plungers ran into the river ten times a piece to commemorate the event. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Polar Plunges this year.

Photos & Video

• Photos from all 10 Polar Plunges
• Professional photos from IPI Photography
• Our favorite videos on YouTube
• Polar Plunge promotional video on YouTube
• 2008 Plunge Video Contest entries

What is the Polar Plunge?

The Polar Plunge is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to support local Special Olympics athletes by jumping or slowly crawling into the frigid and icy waters of Wisconsin.

Since its inception ten years ago Wisconsinites have helped raise nearly $6 million by taking the Plunge.

If you're too chicken to make the splash, show your support by making a pledge to a braver soul. This year there are ten Plunges statewide to choose from. Special Olympics was founded on the belief that all individuals with cognitive disabilities can benefit from sports.The Polar Plunge helps subsidize costs needed to support our athletes.

State sponsor

Here's what you need to do to take the Plunge

Step One

Register for the Plunge online

After you register online, you can

• Create your own Web page, upload a photo and text message
• Start or join a plunge team
• Collect and track online credit card pledges
• Use e-mail tools to communicate with friends and family

If you don't want to register online, you can register the day of the Plunge or at a pre-registration event. All Plungers still need to check-in at the Plunge or attend a pre-registration event to sign a waiver, pick up incentives and turn in pledges.

Even if you've registered for Plunges in past years you still need to register for the 2008 Polar Plunge.

For more information on the Plunge closest to you, contact your Area Plunge office.

Step Two

Raise pledges

Pledge raising tools

• Ask your friends and family to visit your Web page
• Check out the 2008 incentive prizes
• Find out how to raise $150 in a week
• Download and print a pledge form (pdf)
• Link to your Plunge Web page on your MySpace or Facebook account
• Click here to see if your employer offers matching gifts

Step Three

Turn your pledges in, sign a waiver, collect your incentives and take the Plunge!

There are three ways you can turn in your pledges:

1. Collect credit card pledges online using your online Web page
2. Bring cash or checks with you the day of the Plunge
3. Bring cash or checks with you to a check-in or pre-registration event

More information about the Plunge

• Plungers must raise a minimum of $75 to receive the official Plunge sweatshirt.

• Checks can be written out to Special Olympics Wisconsin

• Waivers: All Plungers must sign a waiver either the day of the Plunge or at a Pre-Registration event. Plungers who are under 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
  Click here to download the release waiver

• Incentive prizes will be given out based on pledges received up to the day of the Plunge. Plunge staff will have a printed record of the total pledges you earn online. Print out your online pledge records and bring them with you when you check in for the Plunge.

• We try to order enough incentives to supply all Plungers; however we cannot always guarantee your incentives will be on hand. If you do not receive all your incentives the day of the Plunge, they will be available for pick up after the Plunge.

• Tips for first time Plungers

Questions? Check out our frequently asked questions or contact your local plunge office.

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