

An interactive social media event
In support of more than 19,500 Special Olympics Washington athletes!
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The annual Special Olympics Washington Polar Plunge is one of our top fundraising events. While we may be miles apart this year, we can still come together virtually and say to Special Olympics athletes all over the state: WE SUPPORT YOU!
Join participants from across the nation as we SIGN UP, SPLASH, and SHARE our plunges online to raise funds and support for children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout Washington state.
Registration is open! Sign up individually or with your “Quaran-team.”
Once registered, you can begin raising donations from friends, family, and colleagues! Rally support around your commitment to get cold for a cause and earn an official plunge kit packed with fun props to help make your plunge a memorable one.
Capture your perfect plunge on video! You can dunk, soak, dip, or splash, as long as you’re IN cold water! Stay safe and be creative!
Learn how it works. Find tools and tips to help you make the biggest splash possible for Special Olympics Washington athletes!
DOWNLOAD PDFOnce you’ve created the perfect plunge video, upload it here for a chance to be featured!
BONUS: Follow Special Olympics Washington on TikTok and Instagram for a chance to DUET and form a
“Splash Mob” with CELEBRITY GUESTS!
Everyone deserves a chance at a happy and purposeful life.
Yet children and adults with intellectual disabilities face doubt, barriers, and low expectations. For many, Special Olympics is the only place where they find an opportunity to participate in their communities, develop belief in themselves, and feel like champions. Each day we empower athletes to shatter stereotypes and exceed their personal bests on and off the playing field. But for every one of the inspiring 19,500 Special Olympics Washington athletes there are 13 more people waiting for their chance to win.
Thanks to our generous donors, sponsors and benefactors – supporters like YOU – Special Olympics Washington athletes are inspired to greatness. Donate to Special Olympics Washington and start changing lives today.
All times are Pacific Standard (PST)
FEB 22
12:00 am
Plunge Video Submissions
FEB 26
5:00 pm
for video submissions and fundraising efforts to qualify for awards & prizes!
7:00 pm
Polar Plunge Challenge
on TikTok
FEB 22
12:00 am
Plunge Video Submissions
FEB 26
5:00 pm
for video submissions and fundraising efforts to qualify for awards & prizes!
FEB 26
7:00 pm
Polar Plunge Challenge
on TikTok
The top Individual and top Quaran-Team fundraisers will each receive:
A Trip for Two to the
2022 USA Games in Florida!
Package includes the following:
Share your plunge on TikTok and Instagram for a chance to be crowned the winner in one of our Polar Plunge Challenge contests.
All contest winners will receive a Polar Plunge Merch Bundle from Special Olympics Washington!
Take a look at some of the best costumes from previous plunges!
Our 2021 POLAR PLUNGE GOAL is $350,000
Get creative! Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Safety first!
Please do NOT:
An interactive social media event in support of more than 19,500 Special Olympics Washington participants. This virtual fundraising event will include your favorites such as the costume contest and awards, yet you get to choose how you plunge! Sign up, Splash & Share your plunge for a chance to win great prizes!
In 2020, Special Olympics Washington faced serious challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We were forced to stop offering in-person training and competition, cancel many fundraising events and put important initiatives on hold. While we had to stop offering our in-person events and activities, our commitment to our athletes did not stop. We transitioned to providing athletes with virtual sports programming and at-home fitness training, stressing the importance of staying physically and mentally fit, and connected with each other while at home. We hope you will join us in the Polar Plunge Challenge so that we can continue to change lives through the power of sports.
Register at PolarPlungeWA.com and begin raising donations from friends, family, and colleagues! You can also find the offline donation form here.
That’s the best part, you get to choose! Dunk, soak, dip or splash! All we ask is that you stay safe and be creative! We have tons of ideas for you here. Can you say winter slip and slide?!
Check out our Tips & Tricks for virtually fundraising here!
That’s right! Raise an additional $25 (in addition to the $25 paid when registering) and you will be mailed an official Plunge Kit packed with fun props to help make your Plunge memorable (Plunge Kit items may vary). The Plunge Kit will be mailed to the address provided at registration starting in early February. Raise enough funds before then and you’ll be one of the first plungers to receive your kit! Additional incentives will be announced soon!
Not to worry! Just because the event is virtual does not mean we cannot still have fun! Award winners (even for the costume contest) will be announced during Plunge Week (February 22-February 26)
Best Costume, Top Fundraising Individual, Top Fundraising Team, Most Unique Plunge, Most Community Spirit, Best Celebrity Duet, Best Peer Duet and Best Splash Mob. Tune in during Plunge Week (February 22-February 26) to hear the winners announced!
It takes ten individuals to qualify as a Quaran-Team. Invite your family, friends, teammates, co-workers!
No problem, you can share your perfect plunge video to any social media platform with #PolarPlungeChallenge.
Not on social media? Just upload the video at PolarPlungeWA.com during Plunge Week (February 22-26) to qualify!
Absolutely. We strongly encourage participation by families of staff, regular customers/clients, partners, etc. The more, the merrier!
Go ahead and e-mail us! We are happy to add you to any team, or we can help you create your own! Ehardwick@sowa.org
Login to your fundraising profile page here and click ‘Manage’ (top right rectangle by your personal icon). This will bring you to your home page, review the tabs at the top of the square in front of you and edit away! Remember, Team Captains can update their team and personal pages!
Special Olympics Washington is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We’ll send it to you once your donation is successfully processed.
Please do not mail cash. Turn the cash into a cashier’s check and mail the checks to us! Our mailing address is: Special Olympics Washington; 2815 Second Avenue, Suite 370; Seattle, WA 98121
Don’t forget to write your name and “Polar Plunge” on the memo line so we can credit it to your online fundraising page!
Follow these easy steps!
Follow these easy steps!
Special Olympics Washington is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Donations, including the registration deposit paid during registration, are non-refundable.
E-mail us, we will be happy to reset it for you! Ehardwick@sowa.org
Please contact Ellie Hardwick at Ehardwick@sowa.org
Buy a mask or t-shirt to wear in your perfect plunge video!
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