Frequently Asked Questions

Event Timeline

Welcome to the 2026 Polar Plunge Weekend for Special Olympics New York Hudson Valley! Below you will find the timeline of events for this year’s Polar Plunge weekend. Please be aware that below is a tentative timeline. Make sure you are checking your email often for coaching letters and information from soneil@nyso.org.

General Event Information

• A: $125 is the minimum plunge donation. By raising $125, you will receive the official Polar Plunge hoodie the day of the plunge. If you raise more than this amount, you will have an opportunity to receive additional prizes!

• A: Anyone who raises $250 or more will qualify for additional incentives. These incentives will be sent out after the plunge. Check out the incentives tab to see what other fun swag you could win.

• A: New this year, we will be offering the Tri-fecta Challenge. Any individual who raises $500 or more and jumps in all three Dutchess events will earn the Trifecta Medal.

• A: Any in hand money should be turned in at the registration area the day of the event. This includes cash, checks, and money orders. Credit card donations are also accepted at registration. Checks can be made payable to: Special Olympics NY. Please include in the memo area of the check the Plunger's name that will receive the credit.

• A: This year, all three Dutchess plunge locations will be using a new mobile plunge unit that easily travels and gets filled with cold water. The unit does have stairs when exiting the water and has ramps on both sides of the unit for entering and leaving. Some choose to go all the way under, while others may choose not to. Everyone is a plunger in our book! We will have photographers near the unit to capture all the fun!

• A: While we do not have any age restrictions, participants under the age of 18 must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Over the years, many young children have participated quite safely, and we defer to the parents on what makes the most sense for their family.

• A: At Marist University, we will have access to the Cornell Boathouse for clothing changes. At Dutchess Stadium and at Eastdale Village we will have sanctioned changing tents and port-a-lets for this purpose.

• A: Pretty much whatever you want, within the following guidelines: Remember costumes are allowed and welcomed! You must wear shoes of some sort. We recommend old sneakers, crocs, or water shoes. No flip flops. Lewd or indecent bathing suits or outfits are not permitted. Please remember that this is a family event. Participants who disregard this policy will be asked to cover up or will be escorted from the event.

• A: The most fun you'll ever have in the winter months! This year will look way different from past year’s so be ready to have fun, fun, fun!

• A: Bring a plastic bag for your wet clothes. Don't wear any jewelry that you are afraid to lose. If you want to take your cell phone with you, put it in a plastic bag so it won't get wet and remember to bring comfortable nonslip shoes that can get wet!

Donations/ Fundraising Information

• A: Checks should be made out to Special Olympics New York. Please include in the memo area of the check the Plunger's name that will receive the credit.

• A: Call or email Susanne O’Neil at 845-262-6011 or soneil@nyso.org

• A: Donations to the Plunge are accepted at any time of the year, and simply need to be mailed or delivered to: Special Olympics New York, 1207 Route 9, Suite 1C, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. Please be sure that the name of the individual or team that the donations should be credited to is clearly indicated.

• A: All donations should be turned in at the event registration area. These additional funds will be added to your total fundraising amount. You can also drop your donations off at our offices at 1207 Route 9, Suite 1C, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. Please contact Susanne O’Neil at, soneil@nyso.org to coordinate a time.

• A: Charitable contributions are non-refundable, and the minimum plunge registration fee is considered a charitable contribution and is therefore also non-refundable.

• A: Individual plunge participants can enter donations in the system, but they must be confirmed by the staff at Special Olympics New York. All donations cash, check, money order received via mail or in person are entered by the administrative support staff for the plunge. Contributions in this form should be mailed to Special Olympics New York, 1207 Route 9, Suite 1C, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 for processing. Please allow at least 5-7 days from receipt of the donations for totals to reflect online.

• A: Generally speaking, contributions will be entered no more than five to seven days after they are received by Special Olympics New York. When checking on a donation that has been mailed, please remember to allow two to three days for handling by the USPS. During the week of the plunge, processing time will increase due to the volume of mail received. In this case, contributions may or may not appear on your webpage prior to the event.

• A: Yes, that is an excellent way to raise additional funds on behalf of your plunge. All you need to do is complete a request with your employer. They will have us verify your donation and will send us the matching funds — usually within six weeks, sometimes longer.

• A: Blank receipt forms are available for you to give back to donors upon receiving a contribution. Download one here.

Team information

• A: Teams are not required to raise any specific amount; however, every team member still must raise at least $125. The minimum amount to jump in the Trifecta Challenge is $500.

• A: All plungers must fund-raise individually. However, we are aware that in some cases a family member or a company will issue one check that is intended to cover multiple team members but will just use the team’s name. You can help us to avoid this by asking donors to indicate in advance exactly who they are sponsoring and in what amounts. If that information is not included ahead of time but the donor did intend for it be split among team members, please contact us at soneil@nyso.org. If you are bringing a bulk check or dollar amount with you to the event registration, please be ready to share how you would like the funds split up between each plunger written out or the donation will go to whichever team member is handing it in during registration.

• A: We are happy to work with teams to assist in promoting participation in this event. Send us the information and we will post it on our social media accounts. Please email soneil@nyso.org.

Spectators

• A: Spectators are welcome to stand along the outside perimeter of the mobile unit in the designated official "Plunge Zone" to watch the action. Spectators will not be allowed into the Plunge Zone. For those plungers who want photographic proof, we recommend taking a waterproof camera with you into the water and asking a fellow Plunger to capture the moment. We will also have a professional photographer on hand at each plunge capturing the moments.

• A: No! Spectators are not welcome to jump at any of the events free of charge. There will be food and beverage vendors, as well as other event merch for sale so spectators might want to have some cash on hand to purchase event tchotchkes and memorabilia.

• A: If you simply want to let us know that you are no longer attending, there is no need. There are no refunds.