The Gaels raised a total of $46,000 at the 10th annual Westchester Polar Plunge, which featured more than 100 students participating in a collective jump into ice-cold waters at Glen Island Park on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018.
Special Olympics New York Director of Development Kaitlin Brennan presented the Plungers with the award during a special presentation at Iona Preparatory School on Monday, Dec. 17. This is the Plungers’ fourth consecutive “Cool School Challenge” trophy, and as a result of the team’s fundraising efforts, more than 100 Special Olympics athletes will now be able to participate in the games for free.
“Our goal is always to do the best we can for these incredible athletes,” said Patricia Gray, Plungers club moderator and English teacher at Iona Preparatory. “We are thrilled to keep growing our efforts and to, once again, take home the state title. It makes jumping into that freezing water absolutely worth it!”
This award marks the eighth time in a decade that the Prep Plungers were named as the top Westchester school (before the Cool School Challenge). The Plungers were also Westchester’s top overall team in 2010 and 2011 and have raised nearly $200,000 in total for Special Olympics athletes since the Westchester Polar Plunge’s inception.
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