Record high turnout and record low temperatures set the scene for the 2017 Penguin Plunge at Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort last month in Ottawa, Ill. The event raised $161,189 to benefit Make-A-Wish Illinois, nearly $60,000 more than the year before.
Organized and hosted by Heritage Harbor Ottawa, a marina resort community on the Illinois River, the event challenged residents and their friends from Ottawa, Starved Rock Country and beyond to collect pledges for jumping off the marina’s dock and into the chilly water at Heritage Harbor Marina. In its sixth year, the 2017 Penguin Plunge drew 370 participants, including 36 teams, and more than 2,500 spectators.
“The continued momentum we’ve had growing this event year over year has been unbelievable, and we’re incredibly thankful for the generosity of all our participants, donors and sponsors for making the Penguin Plunge such a success,” says Tammy Barry, Penguin Plunge co-chairman and director of sales and marketing for Heritage Harbor Ottawa. “We were especially thrilled with the record turnout for this year’s event, despite it being our coldest Plunge to date with temperatures in the 20s. Thanks to our dedicated Plungers and everyone supporting them, we were able to make our largest contribution ever to Make-A-Wish to support the organization’s wonderful mission.”
All costs for the Penguin Plunge are covered by donors and sponsors, meaning 100 percent of proceeds raised by participants go directly to Make-A-Wish.
