Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast’s Penguin Plunge This Weekend
High School Plunge Saturday-Milestone Penguin Plunge Sunday
Contact: Mark Ericson
603-498-5186
MarkE@sonh.org
Concord, NH (February 6, 2024) – The Special Olympics New Hampshire (SONH) Plunge weekend is Saturday and Sunday, February 10th and 11th. The events returned to Hampton Beach State Park last year but continued to make available the “Do-It-Yourself” option that became popular during the pandemic. There will be D-I-Y plungers again this year, but the vast majority of those registered choose the party atmosphere of the annual in-person event.
The Saturday High School Plunge will mark the 16th time school-aged students from all over the state converge on the beach to raise funds for the athletes and programs of SONH. Competition among schools for bragging rights about the most fundraising and the best costumes is fierce and fun.
Sunday will bring Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast’s Spooktacular 25th Anniversary Penguin Plunge to Hampton Beach. “To see the growth of this event and the incredible amount of fundraising associated with it over the past two-and-a-half decades is amazing and humbling at the same time,” according to SONH President and CEO Mary Conroy. “Words just can’t express how much we appreciate the thousands of people who come together each year to either plunge, donate, volunteer and otherwise support this spectacle,” she continued.
This weekends’ plunges are the largest fundraising event of the year for Special Olympics New Hampshire. Costumes have always played an important part in the plunge. This year’s theme is “Halloween” and SONH expects some serious creativity for both the High School Plunge on Saturday and the Silver Jubilee Penguin Plunge Sunday.
Special Olympics New Hampshire is still in need of volunteers to assist with the weekend festivities. While some volunteer positions are outside, there are many inside tasks available in both the Ashworth Hotel and the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom. Information about volunteer opportunities can be found here. Volunteer Coordinator Pam Anctil can answer any questions at Pamplus3@hotmail.com.
Anyone interested in plunging can still sign up here. Most fundraising is done online, and most participants hit their minimums in less than 72 hours.
Those making donations can donate to a specific plunger or group of plungers (called “flocks”) with an easy-to-use search function. All proceeds from the High School Plunge and the Penguin Plunge stay in the Granite State and are used to support the more than 3000 athletes served by SONH in every region of the state. Donations can be made here.
Plungers stage in the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom and return to the Ballroom for a private party following their plunges. Spectators are welcome on Hampton Beach both days this weekend. Plunging starts at noon each day on the section of beach directly behind the Seashell Stage.
The 2024 High School Plunge and Penguin Plunge are presented by Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast and hosted by Eversource. More info about all events can be found at www.SONH.org. Media inquiries can be directed to SONH Senior Manager, Multimedia Mark Ericson at MarkE@sonh.org or 603-498-5186.
About Special Olympics New Hampshire
Special Olympics New Hampshire (SONH) is an accredited program of Special Olympics International (SOI) and is part of an international global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. We empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance.