CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The 23rd annual Chicago Polar Plunge saw sunshine and a potential record amount of money raised for Special Olympics.
Organizers said they had brought in nearly $2 million dollars by the time the last plungers went into the water at 11:30 a.m.
They were among 4,000 people who jumped into Lake Michigan at a busy and festive North Avenue Beach.
Special Olympics Chicago President Ray Baker said 350 teams participated in the fundraiser that pays for competitions in 17 different sports throughout the year.
David Eisenberg, actor on the TV show Chicago Fire, said today's Polar Plunge was his eleventh time and it was better than some years when the weather made it miserable.
"Anything for the Special Olympics-they're an amazing organization," he said.
A woman from Chicago’s southeast side told WBBM she decided to plunge for her birthday and brought along others who were also doing it for the first time.
"It was awesome," she said. "It was definitely very cold, but we had a great time."
In addition to the colorful costumes, the event saw Lori Lightfoot make her last plunge as mayor, going into the lake up to her knees.
One of the men hoping to replace her, Paul Vallas, stayed dry while handing out towels on the beach.
The former Chicago Public Schools CEO said he has plunged before for what he calls “an extraordinary cause”.
Special Olympics will continue to collect donations through the end of the month and expect to collect more than the previous record, set back in 2020 at $2 million.
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