SOMO News
RELEASE: 19th Annual St. Joseph Polar Plunge raises $30,000 for SOMO
ST. JOSEPH – The 19th Annual St. Joseph Polar Plunge on Saturday, Feb. 24 at East Hills Shopping Center was a splashing success, raising $30,000 to date. A total 54 brave men and women from around the area donned Hawaiian-themed costumes and swimwear to take a chilly dip into freezing water. Their Reason for Freezin’ wasthe athletes of Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO).
Online fundraising is still ongoing. Organizers of the Plunge still hope to raise an additional $5,000 to reach the goal of $35,000. Donations can be made on our online fundraising page!
Top individual fundraisers:
- 1st Place – April Hook
- 2nd Place – Chris Babb
- 3rd Place – Jackie Stoll
Top team fundraisers:
- Top Fundraising Team – We Got the Hook
- Top Law Enforcement Team – Maryville Treatment Center
Competition for the Golden Plunger was steep this year. Participants were encouraged to come in costume and compete for the chance to take home the “Golden Plunger.”
- Group 1st Place – SJSD
- Group 2nd Place – We Got the Hook
- Group 3rd Place – Tony Sams
- Individual 1st Place – Matt Thornton
- Individual 2nd Place – James Runde
- Individual 3rd Place – Shaina Smith
SOMO was lucky to have one Plunge Ambassador for this event. SOMO athlete Charlie Phillips worked for months to help spread awareness of the Plunge!
“It is always so much fun,” Phillips said. “Please join us next year!”
This year’s event was held in conjunction with Maryville Treatment Center and St. Joseph Police Department.
Thank you so much to our sponsors!
- Our Polar Level sponsors are Sunshine Electronic Sign and Hillyard Chemical Company.
- Our Tundra Level sponsor is KQTV.
For more information about the Polar Plunge, visit somo.org/plunge!
You can fill out our Polar Plunge survey here!