Polar Bear Club makes big splash with $60,000 donations
New Year’s Day swimmers give to Coney Island groups
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club’s plunge into the frigid Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Day raised some cool cash for local non-profit groups, the club recently announced.
Club members raised an impressive $60,000 in the 115th Annual New Year’s Day Plunge and plan to donate the funds to nine Coney Island-based organizations, including the Coney Island YMCA, Coney Island USA, Coney Island History Project, Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers, the NY State Marine Education Association, NYC Parks Foundation and Parachute Literary Arts.
More than 3,500 swimmers braved the cold temperatures on Jan. 1 to wade into the ocean. The event, which draws international media attention, also serves as a fundraiser as participants are asked to make donations.