Special Olympics athletes and community supporters gathered at Montage Mountain on Saturday for the third annual Northeast Polar Plunge. The event serves as a major fundraiser for Special Olympics Pennsylvania, an organization that provides free, year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Despite the freezing temperatures, approximately 200 participants turned out to take the plunge into the chilly water, with many divers sporting creative costumes for the occasion. Organizers announced that this year’s efforts were a massive success, bringing in roughly $108,000 across a series of polar plunge fundraisers held throughout the region. With the momentum from this year's turnout, planning is already underway for the event to return next winter.