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Release: 21st Annual Kansas City Polar Plunge raises over $174,000 for Special Olympics Missouri

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KANSAS CITY – The 21st Annual Kansas City Polar Plunge on Jan. 25, 2025, at Longview Lake Swim Beach was a splashing success, raising $127,202 to date. A total of 585 brave men and women from around the area donned costumes and swimwear to take a chilly dip into Longview Lake. In addition, 9 Super Plungers took the Plunge 24 times in 24 hours to raise an added $46,815. The weekend total came out to $174,017. 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 $10,000 to reach the goal of $185,000. Donations can be made on our online fundraising page here!

“This year’s Polar Plunge was the largest that we’ve seen in a few years,” Plunge Coordinator Christina McDonough Hunt said. “We’re grateful for all the love and support the community showed by showing up to plunge. We raised more money this year, and our athletes absolutely loved cheering on the plungers”.

Top individual fundraisers:

  • 1st Place Fundraiser – Aaron Burks ($6,210)
  • 2nd Place Fundraiser – Kaden Mendenhall ($5,600)
  • 3rd Place Fundraiser – Heather Rolli ($3,435)
  • 1st Place Super Plunger – Jimi Lakey ($22,461)
  • 2nd Place Super Plunger – Brie Haines ($8,960)
  • 3rd Place Super Plunger – Anna McDaniel ($3,070)

Top team fundraisers:

  • Top Fundraising Team – Lineage Edgerton Sub-Zeros ($15,183)
  • Top Law Enforcement Team – CU In the Water from Public Safety Credit Union ($10,306)
  • Top Fundraising School – Lee’s Summit School District ($17,184)

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.”  Our winners were voted on and chosen by our SOMO athletes!

  • Group 1st Place – Team Riverside with Riverside PD and FD
  • Group 2nd Place – “Glow” CU in the Water Public Safety Credit Union
  • Group 3rd Place – Culver’s – NE Douglas Rd.
  • Individual 1st Place – Don as Arrowhead Santa
  • Individual 2nd Place – Solomon Cole as Construction Guy
  • Individual 3rd Place – Randy as Duck Guy

SOMO was lucky to have three Plunge Ambassadors helping with this event. Our Plunge Ambassadors for this year’s Plunge were Allen Tobin, Lynna Hodgson, and John Eckart. All three are SOMO athletes, and they worked for months to help spread awareness of the Plunge!

“I think the Polar Plunge is a very important event, not only for the athletes, but for everyone to come and see the athletes – see where the money they raise goes, and why it’s important to support Special Olympics Missouri athletes,” Plunge Ambassador Allen Tobin said.

This year’s event was held in conjunction with the Kansas City and Lee’s Summit Police Departments.

Thank you so much to our sponsors!

  • Our Tundra Level sponsors are Pipefitters Local Union 533, Metro Air, Northpoint Development, Sunbelt Rentals, Flooring and More, D&D Electric., Pepper’s Pool and Spa, and Bledsoe Rental.
  • Our Snow Sponsor: Synchrony Financial
  • Our Arctic Level sponsors are Ferrellgas, ORI, Knights of Columbus #6819, and Lee’s Summit Underwater Rescue & Recovery.

For more information about the Polar Plunge, visit PlungeMO.org.

Media is welcome to download and use any pictures from our Flickr page here!

Please Note: Polar Plungers are asked to fill out our post-event survey here!