The Owensboro Plunge

On Tuesday, January 27, a massive winter storm tore through Kentucky wiping out power to thousands and crippling parts of the state. The western half of Kentucky was especially hard hit. Just 10 days later and with much of the area still without power and cleaning up the mess, 120 Polar Bears managed to come together at The Hines Center in Support of Special Olympics and the Polar Bear Plunge.

Once again the day began and ended inside the Hines Center facility, opening with the annual costume contest. This year's winner in the group costume category was The Hines Center team itself, which dressed as the Addams Family. The individual and pairs title went to a couple from Texas Roadhouse dressed as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.

Owensboro Plunge Queen Leigha Davis and King Henry "Waldo" Waldschmidt accept their awards as the event's top fundraisers.

After the Polar Bears hit the water in the Hines Center Lake, participants and family and friends returned to The Hines Center for the post-plunge bash sponsored by Texas Roadhouse and the awards ceremony. Founding Plunge Sponsor US Bank reclaimed its title as the Corporate Division Polar Cup winner for having the largest Corporate team and was also the Top Fundraising Team as its 20 members raised more than $9,200. The Daviess County Sheriff's Department won the Law Enforcement Polar Cup with 18 Polar Bears and the Apollo High School team defended its Polar Cup in the School Division with eight Plungers.

Both the Plunge King and Queen from 2008 held their thrones for another year. Plunge King Henry "Waldo" Waldschmidt of The Hines Center retained his crown raising $2,370 and Queen Leigha Douglas of US Bank raised $2,390 for the Plunge. For the first time this year the King and Queen were joined by a Plunge Prince and Princess, signifying the top fundraisers between the ages of 7 and 12. This year's Plunge Prince was Darian Smith who raised $150. The Princess was Larkin Pendly who raised $133. King Henry got another reason to celebrate when a Caribbean Cruise, complements of AAA Travel was added to his prize package, when his name was drawn on March 3 from among the hundreds of Polar Bears who had raised more than $250 at events statewide.

In all the 2009 Owensboro Plunge raised $27,000, an amazing number given the circumstance in the area in the days leading up to the Plunge.

Our thanks to everyone who made the 2009 Polar Bear Plunge such an overwhelming success — all of the participants and the event committee and all the volunteers. We want to thank 2009 Polar Bear Plunge sponsors The Hines Center, US Bank, Texas Roadhouse, WBKR, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Torch Run and AAA Kentucky.

Plungers from the Hines Center team hit the water in Owensboro.

For more information about how you or your company can be involved in the 2010 Owensboro Polar Bear Plunge, either as a sponsor or as a participant, contact Special Olympics Kentucky Special Events Coordinator Candace Thompson at 800-633-7403 or via e-mail at cthompson@soky.org.

Five Polar Bear Plunges were held in Kentucky in 2009 with events in Lake Cumberland, Lexington, Louisville, Newport and Owensboro. This Polar Bear Plunge season saw more than 1,800 people take the Plunge, raising a record $510,000 for Special Olympics, the first time the events have topped a half million dollars raised in the event's history.

2009 Owensboro Plunge Award Winners

King of the Plunge — Henry Waldschmidt, $2,370 raised
Queen of the Plunge — Leigha Douglas, $2,390 raised
Prince of the Plunge — Darian Smith, $150 raised
Princess of the Plunge — Larkin Pendley, $133 raised

Polar Cup Corporate Division — US Bank; 20 members, $9,239.75 raised
Polar Cup School Division — Apollo High School; 8 members
Polar Cup Law Enforcement Division — Daviess County Sheriff's Office;18 members
Top Fundraising Team — US Bank, $9,239.75 raised

Team Costume Contest Winner — Addams Family, The Hines Group
Individual/Pairs Costume Contest Winner — Texas Roadhouse