Dept. Memo M-05-25 – 25th Annual Chicago Polar Plunge

Friendly reminder for Sunday, March 2, 2023, Special Olympic Polar plunge.  All UNIFORM members participating are requested to wear their Fire Helmets.  For those that don’t have Fire Helmets please wear something that identifies you as a CFD PARTICIPANT.

The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) is proud to announce once again our sponsorship and participation in the 25th Annual Chicago Polar Plunge, which benefits Special Olympics Chicago. The 2025 Chicago Polar Plunge will take place at North Avenue Beach on Sunday, March 2, 2025, and Team CFD will be “plunging” at 11:00am! 

This event offers a chance for you to brave the icy waters of Lake Michigan – and make lifelong memories – all for a great cause. The Chicago Polar Plunge raises money for the more than 7,500 athletes who participate in Special Olympics Chicago, which is the largest Special Olympics in Illinois and has programs in more than 127 public schools and 23 parks throughout the city. The Special Olympics were first held in Chicago in 1968 at Soldier Field, with 1,000 athletes participating. Today, the program is a global organization with 5 million athletes in 172 countries. 

To join or donate to Team CFD, follow the link below and click either the “Donate Now” or the “Register” blue buttons on the righthand side of the page. When using the “Register” button, click “Join a Team”, then “Next”, then “Plunger – Team Member”, then select “TEAM CFD (11:00 wave).” This will ensure you are registered correctly for our TEAM CFD.