The Special Olympics Virginia Polar Plunge dates back to 1993. Virginia's Adventure Club East
was looking for something fun and "extreme" to do in the middle of winter. Coincidentally,
Special Olympics Virginia was looking for new fundraising avenues. Soon, the two pieces
came together. That first plunge, held at the Clarion Hotel, featured all of about 34 plungers
and still raised almost $8,000.
In comparison, last year, the 16th annual Polar Plunge raised more than $900,000 for Special
Olympics Virginia and more than 3,500 chilled souls took the plunge. Because of this
generous support, Special Olympics Virginia is able to provide year-round training and sports
programs for both children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout the state of
Virginia.
This year, help us reach our one million dollar Plunge fundraising goal and sign up to plunge
today!
The pull is a fun team competition to see which group can pull a cargo jet the fastest. Teams
are made up of 20 members, who all line up adjacent to a huge rope attached to the
aircraft. The starter signals when to start and starts the stopwatch. After the team pulls the
aircraft 12 feet, the stopwatch stops and the elapsed time is recorded as the team score.
Each team is then weighed (as a group) and assembles to have their team photo taken.
They are “Guardians of the Flame.” For the past 23 years, they’ve proudly carried the “Flame
of Hope,” lighting the way to acceptance for Special Olympics athletes throughout the
Commonwealth – and officially “kicking off” the annual Summer Games!
But for the more than 3,000 officers involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run, it’s about
more than carrying the torch for Special Olympics Virginia. It’s a mission; a serious
commitment by the Virginia Law Enforcement community to pay homage to our heroes –
the Special Olympics Virginia athletes and their families.
For more information please click here to read the 2011 Program Memo.
You can also
download the memo when you click here.
The Phi Sigma Kappa Chapter at GMU Presents the 2011 CornHole
Championships for the benefit of Special Olympics Virginia Area 26
Saturday, April 16, 2011, 11 AM to 5 PM GMU Fieldhouse All Special Olympians and their families
are invited to attend and participate in the tournament. The event will also feature a family
fun fair. There will be a Special Olympics Unified Division for teams featuring a Special
Olympian and a coach or partner. To participate, team entry forms will have to be filled out.
Please click here to download the form. To find out more information, please click here.
