This year, Mr. Rogers of Mr. Rogers Windows Foundation will be taking the plunge into the frigid waters off Virginia Beach with 3,000 or more brave souls. Every winter for the past 17 years a very “cool” fundraising event has been raising money for Special Olympics Virginia. The Polar Plunge Winter Festival puts the “fun” back in fundraising by daring one and all to take a dip in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean to support  Special Olympics Virginia. To date, the event has raised a cool $4.7 million for the organization.

You don’t have time to register for this year’s bone-chilling challenge, but you can watch Mr. Rogers “suit up” for the winter swim on  Saturday, February 6. Even if you don’t want to catch a few waves yourself, you can cheer him on, make a donation, or take part in the many other festivities happening on the beach, from the lively Friday night party to ice carving and the gigantic sand sculpture.

Special Olympics Virginia is indeed a very special organization. They provide year-round programming in sports training and athletic competition specifically for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Serving almost 10,000 special athletes across seven regional offices and through 28 area programs, Special Olympics Virginia is also proudly part of a dynamic global movement, which is now in more than 180 countries and represents over three million athletes worldwide.

Using sport as a vehicle for social change, Special Olympics Virginia’s goal is to open hearts and change minds about persons with intellectual disabilities. Their mission is to provide their participants with exciting and competitive athletic opportunities that will enable them to develop and improve physical fitness and motor skills, as well as build self-confidence and promote a positive self-image. And thanks to the assistance of wonderful volunteers—20,000 in total—and the generous support of partners around the state, these special athletes do not have to pay in order to achieve their dreams.