MILWAUKIE, Ore.–Dressed in tutus, capes, wrestling suits, and prom dresses, Embold Credit Union’s team of Polar Plungers braved toe-numbing temperatures and boldly hurled themselves into the frigid Willamette River to raise funds for Special Olympics Oregon. Their valiant efforts paid off with $67,585 raised for the annual Polar Plunge fundraiser, the credit union said.
Polar Plunge is an event that is held each year to promote recognition and inclusion for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and to raise funds for this cause. It provides awareness and access to sports and other community activities for thousands of Special Olympics Oregon Athletes.
The Embold team was comprised of 28 employees, friends, and family members, including eight Super Plungers, seven of whom dunked themselves tirelessly into the unseasonably cold river every hour for 24 hours straight through the night of March 10.
One Super Plunger even celebrated her birthday during the cold midnight plunge and raised $6,369 in the process.
“There isn’t any other way I’d want to celebrate another trip around the sun,” laughed Hilary Kissell, director of marketing and community development at Embold. “The Super Plunge means so much to me, it’s an honor to spend 24-hours being cold.”
In addition to reaching out to family and friends for donations, the Embold Super Plungers also sold hats, washed cars, and hosted raffles to bring the entire amount raised by Team Embold to $67,585. The team showed up in new costumes every hour–from wrestlers, villains, and prom dates to has-been rock stars and backyard barbecuers--to raise both awareness and more funds than ever before.
2023 was Embold’s sixth year participating in both the Polar and Super Plunge events benefiting Special Olympics Oregon. The credit union has raised more than $225,000 for the charity since 2018.
At Embold, we are committed to helping our members, our neighbors, and our communities thrive. And while the Polar Plunge is a lot of fun for our staff, we do it because it has a tremendous impact in the lives of thousands of adults and children with diverse abilities,” said CEO Aaron Goff. “I am so proud of our team for their passion, creativity, and unstoppable commitment to this important cause.”