Catholic school supporters gearing up for annual Polar Plunge fundraiser
January 26, 2020 at 1:39 p.m.
St. James School joins about 20 Catholic schools from throughout the state that will participate in the chiller event that’s designed to raise funds for their school communities. The Polar Plunge involves school supporters bracing the freezing temperatures and going for a quick swim in the Atlantic Ocean.
The 2020 Polar Plunge for Catholic Education coincides with the start of National Catholic Schools Week and will take place at the Sea Bright Municipal Beach. Registration will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and plunge time set for 2 p.m. After the plunge, all participants – plungers as well as supporters – are invited to a reception at nearby Ocean House Tap and Tavern where a ceremonial check distribution will take place at 3 p.m.
Jim Shaw, AOH Polar Plunge event chairman and member of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, said the primary reason for the Polar Plunge is to create an opportunity for schools to unite in support of Catholic education. Each school is rewarded by their effort, he said.
Reflecting on the past 13 years, Shaw said the Hibernians’ event has raised more than $1.4 million, with 100 percent of the money being retained by the participating schools. In addition, the Hibernians also raises funds each year to cover the expenses of hosting the event for the schools and for the necessities such as on-site emergency personnel, insurance and entertainment.
“We are fighting for people to choose Catholic schools for their children,” Shaw said, adding that the total raised from the participating Trenton Diocese Catholic schools in 2019 was $220,000.
“It’s important because Catholic schools are fighting for their existence. There has to be a new model, not reliant entirely on tuition to allow [Catholic] schools to succeed,” Shaw said. “They need people who believe in them to help support them. The AOH believes in Catholic schools.”
Having just opened its doors in July, the 2020 Polar Plunge will mark the first time that St. Mary Academy, Manahawkin, will participate. But supporters of Catholic education in the southern part of Ocean County are very familiar with the event, especially those who turned out in force from the former All Saints Regional Catholic School over the past 13 years.
“I am looking forward to participating in the fun activities for the first time,” said St. Mary Academy principal, Lizanne Coyne, noting that funds raised from the Polar Plunge can be used in a number of ways including updating technology.
“I am also super grateful to the St. Mary Academy PTA and the AOH for their hard work and efforts putting this together.”
As a veteran participant in the Polar Plunge, JoAnn Giordano, principal, of St. James School, Red Bank, said that for the past 12 years, the Polar Plunge has served as the school’s annual fundraiser and “the monies raised has helped us to update our school’s technology with new computers and update our WIFI capacity.”
Giordano smiled as she talked about how her school has been preparing for the 2020 Polar Plunge. Along with placing a polar bear mascot near the entrance to the building, the school also hosts a Polar Olympic Games activity in which students were paired with their religion buddies and participated in various Olympic games. Parents have also been kept informed about the Polar Plunge through the school website and Facebook page and the school also holds a competition with a prize awarded to the class with the most plungers and the class with the most funds raised.
“For me, the most exciting part of the Polar Plunge is seeing the children enjoy themselves and the most heartwarming part is seeing our school community come together to support each other and the school,” said Giordano. “Although it may be cold outside, and it generally is, when we gather together as a school community on a cold winter day, everyone can feel the warmth of our school spirit.”
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St. James School joins about 20 Catholic schools from throughout the state that will participate in the chiller event that’s designed to raise funds for their school communities. The Polar Plunge involves school supporters bracing the freezing temperatures and going for a quick swim in the Atlantic Ocean.
The 2020 Polar Plunge for Catholic Education coincides with the start of National Catholic Schools Week and will take place at the Sea Bright Municipal Beach. Registration will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and plunge time set for 2 p.m. After the plunge, all participants – plungers as well as supporters – are invited to a reception at nearby Ocean House Tap and Tavern where a ceremonial check distribution will take place at 3 p.m.
Jim Shaw, AOH Polar Plunge event chairman and member of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, said the primary reason for the Polar Plunge is to create an opportunity for schools to unite in support of Catholic education. Each school is rewarded by their effort, he said.
Reflecting on the past 13 years, Shaw said the Hibernians’ event has raised more than $1.4 million, with 100 percent of the money being retained by the participating schools. In addition, the Hibernians also raises funds each year to cover the expenses of hosting the event for the schools and for the necessities such as on-site emergency personnel, insurance and entertainment.
“We are fighting for people to choose Catholic schools for their children,” Shaw said, adding that the total raised from the participating Trenton Diocese Catholic schools in 2019 was $220,000.
“It’s important because Catholic schools are fighting for their existence. There has to be a new model, not reliant entirely on tuition to allow [Catholic] schools to succeed,” Shaw said. “They need people who believe in them to help support them. The AOH believes in Catholic schools.”
Having just opened its doors in July, the 2020 Polar Plunge will mark the first time that St. Mary Academy, Manahawkin, will participate. But supporters of Catholic education in the southern part of Ocean County are very familiar with the event, especially those who turned out in force from the former All Saints Regional Catholic School over the past 13 years.
“I am looking forward to participating in the fun activities for the first time,” said St. Mary Academy principal, Lizanne Coyne, noting that funds raised from the Polar Plunge can be used in a number of ways including updating technology.
“I am also super grateful to the St. Mary Academy PTA and the AOH for their hard work and efforts putting this together.”
As a veteran participant in the Polar Plunge, JoAnn Giordano, principal, of St. James School, Red Bank, said that for the past 12 years, the Polar Plunge has served as the school’s annual fundraiser and “the monies raised has helped us to update our school’s technology with new computers and update our WIFI capacity.”
Giordano smiled as she talked about how her school has been preparing for the 2020 Polar Plunge. Along with placing a polar bear mascot near the entrance to the building, the school also hosts a Polar Olympic Games activity in which students were paired with their religion buddies and participated in various Olympic games. Parents have also been kept informed about the Polar Plunge through the school website and Facebook page and the school also holds a competition with a prize awarded to the class with the most plungers and the class with the most funds raised.
“For me, the most exciting part of the Polar Plunge is seeing the children enjoy themselves and the most heartwarming part is seeing our school community come together to support each other and the school,” said Giordano. “Although it may be cold outside, and it generally is, when we gather together as a school community on a cold winter day, everyone can feel the warmth of our school spirit.”