NEW YORK (1010 WINS/ WCBS 880 NEWS) – Thousands of people gathered at Coney Island on New Year's Day to jump into the North Atlantic Ocean for the annual polar bear plunge.
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club has been hosting the event since 1903 and 2024 marked its 121st year.
The temperature reached a peak of 47 degrees and dipped to a low of 35 throughout the day.
According to the event's website, "all funds raised help support our local non-profits and community, including free public programming, environmental and educational programming, the arts, and more. With your help, we can help ensure that Coney Island continues to thrive!"
The Plunge is free to enter, but donations are encouraged. This year’s event raised $124,181 for local organizations and institutions like the Coney Island History Project, and the Coney Island YMCA, according to Brooklyn Magazine.
