Oyster Bay polar plunge raises record-setting $130G for Special Olympics New York
It may have been the warmest day so far this year on Saturday, but participants in the Town of Oyster Bay’s annual polar plunge benefiting Special Olympics New York found the water to be less forgiving.
When the clock struck 11 a.m., dozens of plungers at a time raced to the water’s edge at Tobay Beach in Massapequa, some wearing costumes and shouting as they hit the chilly 48-degree water.
“It was absolutely freezing,” said Penelope Sanchez, 27, of Franklin Square.
Connor Hughes, 24, of Setauket, said the blast of cold water “wakes you up a little bit.”
Special Olympics powerlifter David Hees, of Wheatley Heights, takes the plunge. Credit: Tom Lambui/Tom Lambui
On the otherwise-summerlike morning, the plungers had gathered to raise money for Special Olympics New York, which represents 45,000 athletes throughout the state. The organization provides children and adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to train and compete, said Rebecca Hoffmann, director of development for the organization.
Hoffmann said this year’s fundraiser had 750 registered plungers and generated a record-setting $130,000.
“It’s amazing that the entire community rallied together to come out to promote inclusion and rally together for the athletes,” Hoffmann said. “It gives them an opportunity they never had elsewhere to keep training and competing.”
Brian Meister, 35, of Lindenhurst, is one of those athletes. Meister, who competes in bocce and snow shoeing, said he took home gold and bronze medals at a competition this past winter in Rochester.
“We work hard,” Meister said of his fellow athletes, adding that he felt Saturday’s plunge was an opportunity to promote the Special Olympics to attendees.
A winter festival before the plunge featured myriad companies, agencies and organizations, including the New York Islanders and the Nassau County Police Department. Town of Oyster Bay elected officials attended the fundraiser, including Councilman Lou Imbroto, who emceed during the festival and later took the plunge in the water himself.
Some of the plungers Saturday wore costumes. Credit: Tom Lambui
An opportunity to give back
For many, the decision to plunge was a personal one.
Robert Miller’s mom, Kathy, died in 2023. The Special Olympics was “a cause she would support,” he said, and for the past two years his family has taken part in the fundraiser in her honor.
Paul Sorocco, a 16-year veteran of the Nassau County Police Department, said he has two special-needs children and felt the event was an opportunity to give back. The Third Precinct, where he works, raised $23,000, which organizers said was the most of any group that participated Saturday.
“The turnout is great, the effort everyone put in is great,” Sorocco said. “It just feels good to do something like this to give back.”
Saturday’s polar plunge was on Farmingdale resident Bobby Bradley’s bucket list. Bradley, 68, said he had already jumped out of a plane and went scuba diving. Now, he can check off his latest feat: submerging in near-freezing waters.
Only this bucket list item carried some extra weight: “I like contributing to the cause,” Bradley said.
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