South Bend Cubs Host Fifth Polar Plunge March 21

SOUTH BEND, IN – For the fifth year in a row, the South Bend Cubs are teaming up with Special Olympics Indiana to present the 2021 South Bend Polar Plunge on Sunday, March 21. Registration is now open, and participants are encouraged to register online.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER OR TO DONATE

To limit crowds and to ensure social distancing guidelines can be followed while plunging, the South Bend Polar Plunge will use a segmented schedule with multiple plunge times spread over a two-hour period beginning at 12:00 PM ET. Spectators will also be limited at all Polar Plunge events, with only guardians encouraged to attend. Other adjustments will be implemented on a case-by-case basis according to guidelines issued by the St. Joseph County Health Department and state of Indiana.

The Polar Plunge is an annual fundraising event for Special Olympics that is held across the United States. Special Olympics Indiana is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower those with intellectual disabilities. All funds raised by these events directly benefit more than 18,000 Special Olympics athletes throughout the state, giving them the means to train locally and compete at the state level in a number of Olympic-type sports.

“During the pandemic, our athletes need Special Olympics more than ever,” said Special Olympics Indiana President and CEO Jeff Mohler. “Last March and April, our athletes were isolated from their friends and teammates. Yet we remain connected to them through our various virtual sports and fitness challenges through the year and we continue to keep them active and engaged, ready for competition to begin again.”

In the winter of 2020, Special Olympics Indiana set an all-time high when more than 3,500 plungers took part in their signature fundraiser and brought in over $920,000 to support year-round programs and events for their athletes. To date, the South Bend Polar Plunge has raised nearly $80,000 in the last four years.

“With the help of our good friends, the South Bend Cubs and Mr. Berlin, Special Olympics makes a difference every day, whether in-person or virtual,” continued Mohler. “We thank the Cubs for their ongoing support and for hosting our annual Polar Plunge, as we all hope to soon hear those words, “Play ball!”

“This year’s plunge will be a little different, but the Special Olympics’ mission remains the same,” said South Bend Cubs Assistant General Manager for Marketing & Media Chris Hagstrom-Jones. “These fundraisers make it possible for athletes to stay active and participate in a number of local and state programs. The South Bend Cubs are proud to host this event year after year.”

Those who cannot attend the South Bend Polar Plunge will be able to watch the entire event on the South Bend Cubs Facebook page.

To better accommodate supporters who wish to be a part of the fun without attending an in-person Polar Plunge event this year, a new and improved Virtual Plunger program will be offered. Find out how to Earn Your Wings for Special Olympics Indiana this winter by clicking here.

To participate in the 2021 Michiana Polar Plunge, individuals or groups must raise a "bear" minimum of $75 in pledges. All funds raised will benefit Special Olympics Indiana. Participants can register as an individual or gather friends, family members, co-workers, civic group or school group and register as a team. Register by clicking here.

About Special Olympics Indiana

Special Olympics Indiana is a not-for-profit organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 20 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, reaching more than 18,000 athletes across Indiana. The organization receives no federal- or state-appropriated funds, is not a United Way agency and relies entirely on corporate, civic and individual donations. For more information about Special Olympics Indiana, call (317) 328-2000 or visit soindiana.org.

About the South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs are the Class A-Advanced minor league affiliate of the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 33 years, the team has won four Midwest League titles, most recently in 2019, and has captured eight division titles. In 2019, the South Bend Cubs hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game. In June 2017, Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, was voted Best Class A ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest. In 2015 the team was named Ballpark Digest's Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President's Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose principal shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill.