What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? What about the most charitable?
At FlexTrades, we like to answer both questions with one story — the Polar Plunge.
If you’re not familiar, the Polar Plunge is a national fundraising event where brave souls jump into icy water in support of Special Olympics. It’s cold. It’s intense. And it’s one of the most rewarding things we do all year.
In Minnesota alone — where, by the way, we have 14,000+ lakes, not just the 10,000 you’ve heard about — this event is a big deal. Every winter, people cut holes in thick sheets of lake ice and dive in. For a cause. For the community. And for the joy of doing something that matters.
About the Special Olympics
The Special Olympics started small. In 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver hosted the first “Camp Shriver” in the backyard of her Maryland home. She wanted kids with intellectual disabilities to have a place to play, grow, and belong — because, at that time, they were often excluded from mainstream programs.
That first camp became an annual tradition, then a movement. On July 20, 1968, more than a thousand athletes from the U.S. and Canada came together in Chicago for the first International Special Olympics Summer Games.
Today, that same movement spans over 170 countries and reaches more than 5 million athletes worldwide. And it all started with one idea: everyone deserves a chance to compete.
My Personal Why
My support for Special Olympics didn’t begin with a plunge. It began with my cousin, Joey.
Joey was born with Down syndrome in 1960, during a time when children with special needs were often institutionalized and separated from their families. His parents were part of a generation that pushed back — advocating for inclusion before it had a name. And they found community and opportunity through Special Olympics.
By the time I was born, Joey was already competing regularly. Over his lifetime, he took part in more than two dozen Minnesota state games and a handful of national events. The skills, pride, and friendships he gained from competition changed his life — and the lives of those around him.
When I started my career at FlexTrades in 2017, I knew I wanted to support that mission more actively. That’s when I joined my first Polar Plunge.
FlexTrades Supports the Special Olympics
The experience was everything I’d hoped for and more — fun, moving, energizing. I couldn’t stop talking about it. And by the following year, several coworkers joined me.
That was the start of our official FlexTrades Plunge Team.
Since then, we’ve raised more than $14,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota. To put that in perspective: just $500 is enough to launch a new delegation in the state. It’s proof that a little support can go a long way.
Support Our 2022 Polar Plunge
Our fifth plunge took place on February 19, 2022, in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Even if you weren’t in the state — or willing to jump in yourself — there were still plenty of ways to get involved.
- Plunge virtually — or toss something silly into the lake in your place (rubber chicken, anyone?)
- Donate — support the FlexTrades team directly
- Show up — spectators are always welcome and encouraged
- Share your support — a few kind words on social media go a long way
And if you’re feeling inspired, you can start a plunge of your own no matter where you live.
Let’s Keep It Going
If you have questions about Special Olympics, the Polar Plunge, or how FlexTrades supports the cause, reach out to us at writingteam@flextrades.com.
And remember the athlete’s oath that has guided Special Olympics for decades:
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
