2023 LETR Polar Plunge - Lake Michigan B

Join us on March 19, 2023

You took the leap and helped raise over $71,000 to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois! Thank you for making the 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run Lake Michigan Polar Plunge a huge success.

Polar Plunge Sweatshirts

Didn't get a sweatshirt on Sunday but raised your $100. Don't worry one will be sent to you.

Incentives

Want to help out Special Olympics Illinois a bit more and get some cool swag doing it? If you raise $250, $500 or $1,000 you get even more cool items. You are able to raise money on your Donor Drive page until March 27!

Pictures

Want to relive the day? Check back to our official Special Olympics Illinois Flickr page!

2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run Lake Michigan Polar Plunge Pictures

Plunger Awards

But I do have our plunger award winners! Drum roll please..............

Top Cops

This award is given out to the Law Enforcement Agency that raises the most money. This award is for Public Safety team type. And the winner is......

Wilmette Park District

$5,895

Golden Plunger

This award is given out to the individual who raises the most money. And the winner is.....

Max Sakellaris

$2,504

Golden Plunger - Team

This award is given out to the Team that raises the most money. This award is for teams not registered as a Cool School Team or Public Safety team type. And the winner is.....

The Evanston All-Stars

$6,546

Cool School Champions

This award is given out to the Cool School Team that raises the most money. This award is for Cool School team type. And the winner is....

Oak Park River Forest

$16,634

Thank you again for being apart of such and awesome event. I hope you had a great time and we look forward to seeing you again in 2024!

Thanks,

Jordan Feldman

Region B Director

Be Cool. Take the Lake Michigan Plunge on Sunday, March 19th.

And you will be supporting Special Olympics Illinois athletes across the state, helping to provide them with life-changing programming. This includes year-round training and competition, as well as leadership, personal development, and health education opportunities.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run is totally stoked to host this event in 2023.

Plungers will have two options to participate:

• Join Special Olympics Illinois here at the Lake Michigan Plunge at Gillson Beach in Wilmette (101 Lake Ave in Wilmette).

• Or, take the Polar Plunge experience into your own hands and Create Your Own Plunge (safely, of course) by clicking here.

Thanks for BEING SO COOL and supporting the more than 21,000 athletes in Illinois.

And of course, no matter where you are taking the Polar Plunge, don’t forget to document it! We are asking all Plungers to share their experiences with us and the Special Olympics Illinois community. Post it on social with the hashtag #PlungeIllinois is and tag our social profiles.

When coordinating your Create Your Own Plunge efforts, please be safe. Do not attempt to jump into a lake, river or any other open body of water for the Create Your Own Plunge. Participants should not do anything that could physically harm themselves or others. Special Olympics Illinois is not responsible for any injuries that occur while participating in the Create Your Own Plunge event.

Event Day Schedule - Sunday, March 19th

Polar Plunge registration opens up at 10am in the main tents outside Gillson Beach. The plunge will begin at 12pm and we expect to be finished by 12:30pm (yes, it is FAST!). Please make sure you are registered, changed and in the plunge line by 11:45pm so you don't miss any of the fun.

We thank you in advance for being on time. We need to be considerate of the Wilmette Fire Department Dive Team that is in the water during the plunge, so once the last group of plungers plunge, the plunge site will be closed and we will not accommodate late arrivals.

WHO PLUNGES FIRST

Drumroll please....... Our 1st plungers in 2023 will be our Silver Sponsor Gallagher Insurance! After this 1st group it is first come first serve on who plunges. If you want to be second you better get inline early.

Parking

Parking is available in the Gillson Beach parking lot as well on Overlook Dr to the south of the beach. Click the link below for more information.

Post Plunge Warm Up! Presented by the Suburban Young Professionals Board

Come warm up with the Special Olympics Illinois Suburban Young Professionals Board at Double Clutch Brewery (2121 Ashland Ave, Evanston, IL 60201) immediately after the plunge and shake off the cold. At 1:30pm we will present our official Polar Plunge award winners and have a Special Olympics Illinois athlete will tell you why what you did today is so important for all the athletes across Lake, McHenry and Northern Cook Counties.

All ages can attend. Plungers with their wristbands will get one (1) drink ticket and access to the appetizer buffet. Any non-plungers who want a drink ticket and access to the appetizer buffet can purchase a wristband for $10.

Click Here For Parking Info

Official Polar Plunge Sweatshirt Information

All traditional Polar Plungers who have reached their $100 fundraising minimum by midnight on February 21, 2023 will be guaranteed their 2023 Polar Plunge sweatshirt at the Lake Michigan Polar Plunge. Create Your Own Plunge participants will receive their sweatshirts via the mail in late April.

All participants who reach the $100 fundraising threshold after that date but before the final fundraising date will receive their sweatshirt after the conclusion of the 2023 Polar Plunge season. Donations may be submitted online via your personalized fundraising page or mailed to Special Olympics Illinois. Click here for details on how to submit offline donations.

Plunger Incentives

All Polar Plunge participants are encouraged to fundraise beyond the $100 minimum for a chance to qualify for additional incentives. Incentive levels include $250, $500, and $1,000. An email with a redemption code will be sent to all qualifying plungers in early April.

For additional information, visit our main plunge site at www.plungeillinois.com.

Questions?

Contact your Plunge Director, Jordan Feldman , at jfeldman@soill.org or call 847-209-1247.