By Joseph Sapia|Correspondent 

What is it like to jump in the Atlantic Ocean off New Jersey in winter? “It’s a shock,” said Jim Shaw. “It takes your breath away for sure.” But, since 2007, hundreds have done it in the Polar Plunge – a fund-raising event for Catholic schools run by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Patrick Torphy Division, based in Middletown – that has raised $550,000. All money is raised through pledges, said Shaw, a member of St. Mary Parish, New Monmouth, who is chairing the 2014 event as he has each of the previous seven.

“The schools are in dire need of money,” said Shaw, so the Hibernians wanted to help make Catholic education accessible to children and wanted to assist schools in achieving their capital goals.

In 2014, for the first time, the event will not be held in Sea Bright, because it has outgrown the space there. Instead, it is being held Jan. 12 in Long Branch at Pier Village and the Hibernians are looking for schools – from elementary schools to colleges – to field teams.

“We build on this sense of community, building together,” Shaw said. “It’s a day of Catholic unity.”

In the 2013 event, participating were 24 schools, coming from Hudson County to Trenton.

“About 1,000 in the water, a few thousand watched,” Shaw said. “We want to make sure more schools know about the event and are able to participate.”

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, with this division having about 200 members, picks up the costs of the event, or about $5,000. This money is used for entertainment, lifeguards, emergency-service workers and so on.

The 2013 event was the biggest to date in terms of participants and money raised amounted to some $135,000.

The Polar Plunge began in 2007 with a few hundred participating and $16,000 raised, with the money amount going up each year. The Hibernians went with the plunge in the ocean because it “seemed like a crazy thing to do,” Shaw said.

Ocean conditions during the Plunge?

“Normally about 40 (degrees),” Shaw said. “We’ve had it as low as 33, as high as 50.” He said air temperatures have ranged from the mid-20s to the mid-60s.

“We certainly found a niche that helps the Catholic schools,” Shaw said.

Schools can register the day of Polar Plunge, but the organizers prefer pre-registration. Information is available from Jim Shaw, chairman, at:  908-235-8380; email:  [email protected]; website:  http://aohplunge.blogspot.com.