ALBANY, Ohio — A local veterans group will be raising money for a good cause, even if it means taking a dip in freezing cold water.
Held at Lake Snowden on the outskirts of Albany, the Polar Bear Plunge is an annual event hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9893 and Wild Country 107.7 FM WSEO.
This year’s Polar Bear Plunge will be held on Feb. 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with individual plungers being allowed to plunge from 9:20 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.
The Polar Bear Plunge raises funds for the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities (ACBDD), which runs the Beacon School. On average, the event raises between $8,000 and $10,000 dollars, Art Tipton, a member of VFW Post 9893, said.
In total, the event has raised $93,000 for the Beacon School since the event’s inception eight years ago. Proceeds from the Polar Bear Plunge go toward a variety of projects, Arian Smedley, the assistant superintendent of the ACBDD, explained.
“Some of the proceeds have gone to things like fun field trips or supplies for students,” Smedley said. “Some of our bigger projects have been purchasing specialized screening devices for hearing and vision. We’ve [also] purchased a motorized lift chair for the pool, allowing students who need extra assistance getting out of the pool to use that piece of equipment.”
The proceeds from last year’s Polar Bear Plunge went to installing a modern audio and visual system in the Beacon School’s gymnasium. Along with benefitting the students of the Beacon School, the upgrades also benefitted the community, Smedley explained.
“A lot of our facilities are used by the community, so that will just enhance the experience of hosting events in the gym, whether it be a concert or graduation or prom [or] that kind of thing,” Smedley said.
This year, the ACBDD plans on using the funds it receives from the Polar Bear Plunge to upgrade the Beacon School’s playground with new playground equipment and shade structures, Smedley explained.
“Playgrounds get hot and they’re used a lot in the summertime, especially during summer camp. This will provide a little more shade [and make things] a little more comfortable for students, especially those who have limited mobility to ensure they’re protected more from the sun in the summer,” Smedley said.
The Polar Bear Plunge was the brainchild of Brian Johnson, the commander of VFW Post 9893, who was inspired by a similar event in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, as previously reported by The Messenger.
Last year’s event saw turnout of around 310 people, which was down from 2024’s record turnout of 475.
The Polar Bear Plunge is one of numerous charitable events and givebacks that VFW Post 9893 does throughout the year for the community, using money raised from bingo nights and pull tabs, Tipton said.
After diving in, participants are able to warm themselves up at a warming station with heaters and warm towels. The Albany Area Volunteer Fire Department is also on duty at the event to jump in and rescue anyone who experiences a cardiac event as a result of the cold water, Tipton explained.
Other groups that are involved in the Polar Bear Plunge include the Ohio University Army and Air Force ROTC and local businesses which contribute funds to the event, Brent Hawk, a member of VFW Post 9893, said.
“We have business owners that go: Put me down for $300, put me down for $400 and if nobody shows up, I don’t care. Keep the money,’” Hawk explained.
Those who participate in the Polar Bear Plunge come from all walks of life and from across the country. In addition to community members, many Ohio University students participate in the event, Smedley said.
“Because this is a VFW event, they’re able to garner a lot of support from the ROTC crowd at Ohio University, so they usually have a pretty large contingent who register,” Smedley explained.
Likewise, many families will participate in the event as groups, with children, adults and older adults all taking the plunge alongside each other. Over the years, participation in the event has grown and the ACBDD is hopeful this year’s event will be no different, Smedley said.
“It’s a family affair. Everyone is welcome and we’re hopeful that the trend continues, that more and more people come out, whether you’re participating or just coming to cheer people on,” Smedley explained.
To register online for the Polar Bear Plunge or to make a donation, visit https://athenscbdd.org/polarbearplunge2026/. Online registrations are open until Feb. 20 at 4 p.m.
In-person registration is available at VFW Post 9893 at 3025 Dickinson Road in Albany, Wild Country 107.7 FM WSEO at 15751 Elm Rock Road in Nelsonville and the ACBDD at 801 W. Union St. in Athens. In-person registrations will be accepted until 11 a.m. on the day of the event.
Those with questions about the Polar Bear Plunge can also contact Brian Johnson at 740-856-9404.
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