CSEA TAKES THE POLAR PLUNGE

"CSEA and the Special Olympics are great community partners."

-Bess Watts, President, CSEA Local 828

photo by Ove Overmyer

Rochester, N.Y.-- Over 20 CSEA members and their supporters were included in the thousands of  courageous folk who took part in the very chilly 10th annual Polar Plunge at Lake Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte on Sunday afternoon.

The water temperature hovered around 34 degrees and the wind chill was much colder.  Heavy equipment plowed out an area of the lake in front of the Robach Community Center.  The lake quickly formed ice chunks on the surface as the first responders stood by for good measure.  However, that development and the chilly temps didn't deter Local 828 and WNY Region 6 members from taking the frigid dip in Lake Ontario anyway. 

Organizers estimated nearly 1,100 people pledged donations to benefit the Special Olympics of New York.  Additionally, a crowd of over 1,000 people and media types watched and cheered the plungers on.

Team CSEA WNY Region 6 achieved VIP sponsor status, raising nearly $6,000.00.  According to Christopher F. Smith, Vice President of Development for the Special Olympics New York, approximately $175,000.00 has already been raised and they expect more donations to follow.  The Rochester area plunge consistently raises more money than any of the other 8 statewide Polar Plunge events.  Flo Tripi, WNY Region 6 President, was the third highest individual donor raising nearly $3,000.00.

To see a slideshow of the event, you can click here.  (photography by Ove Overmyer)  To view a video of the plunge, please click here. (video by Bess Watts)