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Feb. 28, 2019Missouri |  By: Ryan Elliot

12th Annual Polar Plunge raises nearly $15,000

(Photo courtesy of http://give.somo.org/)

The 12th Annual Polar Plunge raised nearly 15,000 dollars for Special Olympics Missouri Saturday.
The Polar Plunge was one of the 13 taking place around the state of Missouri this winter. It took place at Lake Viking in Gallatin and featured 53 participants that raised 14,946 dollars for Special Olympics Missouri. Development Director for Special Olympics Missouri, Melody Prawitz, says the event and the others like it across the state are integral parts in funding Special Olympics.

"We do not charge our athletes to participate in our program, and we do not receive any federally or state funded money. So all of the funds we raise are through our fundraisers and the Polar Plunge is our signature event of the year as we hold 13 of them throughout the state of Missouri.   We had one the week before here in St. Joseph which raised over $29,000.  And we're gearing up for our Kirksville one this weekend which will be at Thousand Hill  State Park.  As we state, all the money stays here locally for the north area athletes and that helps for any facilities, any equipment, all the awards that we give away.  And then it helps when they go to state events, we help with the state assessment fees." 

The four largest fundraising organizations at the Lake Viking Polar Plunge were all law-enforcement organizations, the Western Missouri Correctional Center, Crossroads Correctional Center, Chillicothe Correctional Center, and Trenton Police Department.  For more information about the plunge, visit somo.org/plunge .