The twenty seventh Annual Burlington & Cool Faculties Penguin Plunge was held on Saturday, March twelfth on the Burlington Waterfront. Over 800 folks braved the snowstorm and plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain to indicate their assist for Particular Olympics athletes in Vermont. The Penguin Plunge is the biggest fundraising occasion for Particular Olympics Vermont, and this 12 months, over $500,000 was raised to assist sports activities coaching and competitors alternatives throughout native and faculty packages, well being screenings, and management alternatives for youngsters and adults with mental disabilities in Vermont.
“This 12 months’s Penguin Plunge was an enormous success! Even a lingering pandemic and a wild March snowstorm couldn’t cease us,” mentioned Particular Olympics Vermont President & CEO, Missy Siner Shea. “We’re so grateful for the assist of our neighborhood, it’s leaders and companies, all of whom, by way of their involvement, make a press release that they imagine within the impactful work of Particular Olympics and are dedicated to constructing a extra inclusive future for us all.”
The Cool Faculties Plunge occurred at 10:00am, with the crew from Champlain Valley Union Excessive College main the way in which as the highest fundraising crew. The 100-member crew raised over $29,000. The Burlington Plunge began at 11:30am, and the Union Mutual Popsicles have been the highest fundraising crew for the fourth 12 months in a row. Because of their unimaginable 44-member crew, they raised a whopping $85,862 (and counting)!
This 12 months, the Penguin Plunge loved robust assist from a number of B-Firms from throughout Vermont. Licensed B-Firms are required to contemplate the affect of their selections on their employees, prospects, suppliers, neighborhood, and the surroundings. Collectively, B-Corps raised virtually $24,000, by groups from Cabot Creamery Co-Operative, Gardener’s Provide, Rhino Meals, and SunCommon.
The Penguin Plunge wouldn’t have been doable with out the assist of our many sponsors, presenting sponsor Xfinity; gold sponsors, Neighborhood Financial institution, GlobalFoundries, Northfield Financial savings Financial institution and Choose Design; bronze sponsors, Cabot Creamery Co-Operative, Darn Powerful, Mascoma Financial institution, College of Vermont Well being Community, and Vermont Enterprise Journal; media sponsors, WCAX, 95 Triple X, WVMT, The Sport, The Wolf, and Media Manufacturing unit who reside streamed the occasion, plus, further sponsors, Alpine Store, Burton, Inexperienced Mountain Gross sales Corp, Hilton Burlington, Resort Vermont, NBT Financial institution, Rossignol, and Prime Hat Leisure.
Particular Olympics Vermont can be grateful for the assist of our many companions together with Journey Dinner, Bourne’s Heating, Burlington Telecom, Burlington Parks & Recreation, Burlington Police & Hearth Departments, Church Road Market, Citizen Cider, Metropolis Market, Inexperienced Mountain Safety, Mansfield Corridor, Myer’s Containers, Pete’s RV, P&P Septic, Radio North Group, Starbucks, Prime Hat Leisure, Vail Resorts, Vermont Tent Firm, and our volunteers from the Particular Olympics Vermont Chittenden program and Finest Purchase. Thanks to everybody who makes this occasion doable yearly by way of offering time, vitality, in-kind donations, sponsorships, and extra.
Fundraising pages are open by way of the tip of the month. For extra data please go to www.PenguinPlunge.org.
About Particular Olympics Vermont
Particular Olympics Vermont is a part of a world motion that works year-round to foster the inclusion and acceptance of individuals with mental disabilities through the use of the facility of sport to showcase their presents and skills. For extra data, go to www.specialolympicsvermont.org.