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Cignetti kicks off annual ‘polar plunge’ fundraiser for Special Olympics

By George Hale

Posted February 22, 2025

The event includes costume contests, competitions between Greek organizations, and programs for area schools. (George Hale, WFIU/WTIU News)

IU football coach Curt Cignetti headlined an annual fundraiser benefitting the Special Olympics at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington on Saturday.

Cignetti encouraged supporters of the organization for athletes with intellectual disabilities before they hopped into a pool set up outside the stadium.

“ Olympians are champions, and Special Olympians are champions. They're committed, they're disciplined, they’ve got great work ethic,” Cignetti said. “I salute the Special Olympians and all the participants today for partaking in a great cause.”

The annual “Polar Plunge” — Special Olympics-Indiana’s main fundraising event — dates back to 2001 at Indianapolis’s Eagle Creek. Groups from all over Indiana compete each year to out-fundraise each other, culminating in the annual plunge into the frigid water.

Saturday’s plunge was the 10th to be held on campus at IU-Bloomington.

Scott Furnish, chief development officer with Special Olympics-Indiana, said the university was a natural gathering point for athletes and their supporters.

“They want to give our athletes a chance to do what they do, which is to shine on the playing field,” Furnish said in an interview. “We enjoy competition, obviously. We're a sports organization, and so we make our fundraisers competitive.”

The event includes costume contests, competitions between Greek organizations, and programs for area schools. Organizers said 67 students from Bloomington High School North signed up to take the plunge this year.

Furnish thanked Cignetti for throwing his support behind the event, which included an auction for IU football memorabilia that the coach signed.

“It was a very nice surprise, when we reached out, for him to share some of his time and support our event,” Furnish said.

The 2025 Polar Plunge “season” is Jan. 31 to March 1. Last year, more than 3,400 supporters raised over $1.1 million, according to organizers.