Penguin Plunge draws nigh

February 27, 2014
By Mike Meier
Boundary Couty Public Information

As the Olympics play out on television, you have the opportunity to participate in the support of Special Olympians by participating in the Penguin Plunge at 11 a.m. March 8 at the Search & Rescue Waterways building on Riverside Street.

For the last four years, teams and law enforcement officers have been “Taking the Plunge” and many other individuals, organizations and businesses by jumping into Kootenai River to raise funds for Idaho Special Olympics.

It is fun and exciting with many participants in costume; imagine Halloween goes swimming with ice cubes!

Plungers and plunge teams collect pledges that help to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics, and without those funds Idaho Olympic athletes would not have the opportunity for their special day.

All donations raised go to benefit Idaho Special Olympics. Additionally, local merchants will be taking donations for rubber penguins, each with an assigned serial number. On the day of the plunge all penguins will be placed in a drawing and one penguin will be plucked from the water. The lucky penguin winner will receive 50 percent of the donations generated from the penguin donations while the other 50 percent goes to Idaho Special Olympics.

Registration at 11 a.m. and the plunge starts at noon. Judging for best costume, most spirit and most donations raised, along with a special judge’s award, will be done by Anika Blackmore, Sheriff Greg Sprungl, and Chief Jason Lowe, lower Kootenay Band, with prizes in each category. All photos of the Plunge will be available for viewing on a Flicker site for the world to enjoy.

Put your plunge team together or jump alone. Get your pledges from those who won’t plunge and come join the fun and frolic! Warm food and beverages will be available after those chilling moments in the Kootenai River and all participants will receive a Penguin Plunge towel.

Please visit our Plunge website at http://www.firstgiving.com/idso/2014-penguin-plunge-bonners-ferry. To register, visit http://www.idso.org.

For more information call Dave Kramer at (208) 255-6073.