Local fundraiser brings in $63K for Special Olympics Missouri

A recent local fundraiser tallied up nearly $63,000 in donations for Jefferson City-based Special Olympics Missouri Inc.

The ninth annual Springfield Polar Plunge on March 2 raised $62,926 for Special Olympics Missouri, according to a news release. Online fundraising is ongoing to reach a goal of $65,000.

“The Plunge was such a success, and we had a blast,” said Haley Blevins, the event coordinator, in the release. “It was awesome to see so many new faces from the community join us as well as our supporters that continue to come back year after year."

Special Olympics Missouri reports 150 people participated in the event at Ski Shack's Cable Park, 5539 S. Campbell Ave.

Registered as a nonprofit with the Missouri secretary of state's office, Special Olympics Missouri operates a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, according to the release.

Special Olympics Missouri has a roughly $5 million annual budget, according to its website.