The 40-degree temperatures of the Hempstead Harbor waters did not deter more than 200 people from celebrating the more than $53,000 raised for the Special Olympics of New York at the Town of North Hempstead Polar Plunge.
The town’s 16th annual plunge took place at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington on Saturday.
The organization, in its 50th year, has almost 67,000 athletes who train for and compete in 22 Olympic-style events throughout the year, according to its website.
The funds raised will support roughly 125 athletes in their training and competitions throughout the sports season, according to Rebecca Hoffman, director of development for Special Olympics of New York.
According to the organization’s website, there are around 7,400 Special Olympic athletes on Long Island.
“Thank you to our Town of North Hempstead Polar Plungers for braving the chilly waters and taking the plunge with us,” Hoffman said in an email.
The event’s top fundraiser for the second consecutive year was Great Neck resident Erin Lipinsky. Lipinsky, 43, raised more than $16,000, beating his previous year’s total of more than $12,000.
“I did what I had to do,” Lipinsky said. “I had a lot of help from the firefighters and my coach as well.”
After plunging for the fifth consecutive year, Lipinsky already began to speak about his excitement for next year.
“We beat the goal this year, now we’re going to do even better next year,” he said.
Great Neck’s Alert Fire Company helps Lipinsky raise money for events such as the polar plunge and annual car washes to donate to the Special Olympics of New York.
Michael Green, chairman of Alert Fire Company’s board of directors, touted Lipinsky’s dedication in raising the donation bar each year.
“Erin’s dedication to the cause has been something all of us [at Alert] have been honored to support,” Green said in February. “Everything he does to get donations and help out people who need this money to stay active is incredible. We’re all very proud of him.”
Lipinsky began raised money in 2016, when he got $4,000 in donations, and has increased his fundraising totals each year since.
He was also a Special Olympics athlete as a member of the Great Neck Spirits basketball team in previous years.
The event’s leading fundraising team was the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce, contributing $6,977.
Special Olympics New York has several plunges scheduled for March, including one on Saturday in the Town of Oyster Bay at Tobay Beach. Two others will be held on March 21 in Ithaca and Rockaway, Queens. Other plunges can be found on the organization’s website, polarplungeny.org.
