By Amelia Kibbe
Features Editor
St. Bonaventure students are ready to brace themselves against the frigid depths of Lake Ontario as they participate in a polar plunge to support Special Olympics Dec. 6.
The event, which takes place at Woodlawn Beach State Park in Buffalo, raises money for the St. Bonaventure University chapter of the New York Special Olympics.
Ben Collins, a sophomore finance major and member of Bonaventure’s team, explained how the plungers raise money.
“Plungers create an online team and seek donations for Special Olympics New York and earn the privilege of jumping into the cold lake to show their support for Special Olympics,” Collins said.
There is also a team aspect to the competition.
“We created a team page,” Collins said. “The Buffalo Polar Plunge also features a school competition where students, faculty and community members can represent their schools at the plunge and the school that raises the most money gets their school colors represented on the official Polar Plunge hoodie.”
The entire St. Bonaventure community is welcome to participate either by joining the team and raising money or donating and supporting a current plunge member.
Collins explained he has worked with Special Olympics before and saw this new opportunity as a way to make a difference in the college community. He has plunged to support various groups in the past.
“I saw this as a great opportunity to give back to the community and hopefully have some fun doing it,” Collins said. “The Buffalo Polar Plunge serves as a great way to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics programs on our campus, in our community and throughout Western New York. Right here on campus there are athletes training in volleyball. There are also students in a St. Bonaventure course learning about leadership and service through coaching and implementing a Special Olympics basketball program.”
Events such as the polar plunge allow Special Olympics to continue to provide money for sponsored programs, Paula Scraba, O.S.F., Ph.D. said. Scraba, the liaison for the University with the Special Olympics committee, explained that for years, St. Bonaventure has had a unique connection to the program.
“Dr. Neal Johnson, CEO of Special Olympics of New York, was a Bona alum,” Scraba said. “One of his goals is to make St. Bonaventure a Special Olympics University. Special Olympics has an internationally approved college curriculum by professionals in the field across the United States.”
Both Scraba and Collins stated the importance of Special Olympics in the community.
“The different fundraisers help support the costs associated with supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities,” Collins said. “Special Olympics operates on the principle that athletes and their families are never charged to participate.”
Those interested should visit the team’s website, 2014buffalo.kintera.org/polarplunge/bonnies to join or donate to the team. For additional information on the plunge, email Ben Collins.
