South Burlington, VT – February 13, 2024
The twenty ninth Annual Burlington & Cool Colleges Penguin Plunge offered by Group Financial institution was held on Saturday, February tenth on the Burlington Waterfront. 1,000 folks plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain on an unseasonably heat day to indicate their help for Particular Olympics athletes in Vermont. The Penguin Plunge is the most important fundraising occasion for Particular Olympics Vermont, and this 12 months, a record-breaking $675,000 was raised to help sports activities coaching and competitors alternatives throughout native and college packages, well being screenings, and management alternatives for youngsters and adults with mental disabilities in Vermont.
“This 12 months’s Burlington & Cool Colleges Penguin Plunge surpassed all expectations, setting a brand new report as essentially the most profitable occasion we have ever hosted,” remarked Sarah McCaffrey, President & CEO of Particular Olympics Vermont. “We’re thrilled to announce we now have exceeded our targets due to the overwhelming help from our group, companions, and sponsors. This collective effort not solely highlights the group’s dedication to Particular Olympics Vermont but additionally underscores our shared imaginative and prescient for a extra inclusive future. We’re deeply appreciative of everybody who got here collectively to champion our athletes.”
The Cool Colleges Penguin Plunge happened at 10am, starting with prime fundraising college, Browns River Center College. The 56-member group raised $21,600. The Burlington Penguin Plunge began at 11am, and the Union Mutual and Hickok & Boardman Popsicles took the highest fundraising spot for the sixth 12 months in a row. Due to their 62-member group, led by President & CEO Lisa Keysar, they raised over $185,000 – essentially the most raised by a single group within the historical past of the Penguin Plunge!
All funds raised by means of the Penguin Plunge go in the direction of Particular Olympics Vermont’s native and school-based packages that exist to foster consciousness and inclusion of individuals with mental disabilities by utilizing the ability of sport to showcase their items and talents. As athlete, Caroline McNamara mentioned as she kicked off the occasion, “I like Particular Olympics as a result of I’ve made plenty of associates and I like to win medals.”
The Penguin Plunge wouldn’t have been attainable with out the help of our many companions: presenting accomplice Group Financial institution; platinum companions Xfinity and Union Mutual; gold accomplice GlobalFoundries; silver companions Darn Powerful Vermont, Mascoma Financial institution, Northfield Financial savings Financial institution, Our Home Bistro and Vermont Federal Credit score Union; and bronze companions Cabot Creamery Co-operative, Foam Brewers, Halvorson’s Upstreet Cafe, Nationwide Life Group and UVM Well being Community. We’re additionally grateful for our unimaginable media companions: WCAX, 95 Triple X, 101.3 The Wolf, WVMT, STAR 92.9, Supersounds, and the Media Manufacturing facility who produced an thrilling dwell present for everybody to look at at house. Lastly, Particular Olympics Vermont is appreciative of the help from the Junapr group, Vermont Tent Firm, Bourne’s Power, Myers Container Providers Corp, Burlington Telecom, Burlington Parks & Recreation Division, the Burlington Fireplace Division, the U.S. Coast Guard Station – Burlington, the Norwich Cadets, Finest Purchase, Tech Group VT and numerous volunteers who make this occasion attainable yearly by means of offering time, power, in-kind donations, and extra.
