Polar Plunge enthusiasts from the Los Angeles and Orange County areas will be “Freezin’ for a Reason” as they run into the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m. at the Seal Beach Pier. Seal Beach is one of five locations that will host a Polar Plunge to support Special Olympics Southern California.  The other locations are Zuma Beach, Oceanside, Pismo Beach and a Frank G. Bonelli Park lake in La Verne.

“Individuals, groups and corporations can participate as ‘plungers’ and raise money for Special Olympics athletes,” said Bill Shumard, CEO and President, Special Olympics Southern California.  “This is the first time we’ve had all of our plunges on one day, with opportunities to participate up and down the California coastline.”

 CBS2 Staff Meteorologist Josh Rubenstein will emcee the event and join 500 or more plungers who will jump into the sub-60-degree water—not exactly polar, but still a bit chilly!  We understand the colder-weather chapters of the Special Olympics call the SoCal jumps the “Solar Plunge.”

 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of Special Olympics Southern California and participants are encouraged to wear costumes from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or today to commemorate this event.  Plungers raise a minimum of $50 to race into the ocean within a safety perimeter established by the Seal Beach Lifeguards.

The Polar Plunge is sponsored by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, one of the largest grassroots fundraising programs for Special Olympics.  Law Enforcement Torch Run raised more than $900,000 for the Southern California Chapter in 2008.  Officers represent law enforcement agencies throughout the state and raise money through Tip-A-Cop dinners, Plane/Fire Truck Pulls, 5K/10K runs, raffles, car shows, bike rides, Polar Plunges, Adopt-a-Cop programs, golf tournaments and other special events.

For more information about the 2009 Polar Plunge, visit www.socalpolarplunge.com.