Special Education Teacher gathers group for Special Olympics Illinois Polar Plunge

Hoffman Estates High School Special Education teacher, Amy Longmore, got involved with Special Olympics Illinois over fifteen years ago when Special Olympics Illinois Volleyball Coach, Vicki Mann, asked Amy to bring her volleyball team to a practice and run some drills with the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois. This practice was set up informally by Vicki and Amy, before Special Olympics Project Unify was formalized. Amy and Vicki both enjoyed watching all of the students enjoyed playing the game of volleyball together.

Special Olympics Project UNIFY is an all ages education based program that is supported through the Federal Department of Education. There are many moving parts to Project UNIFY, though they all share one driving force: the goal of activating young people and giving them the tools, skills, dispositions, and opportunities to build change and to motivate their schools to have true cultures of inclusiveness. Project UNIFY’s diverse activities can be grouped into three major components: Inclusive Sports, Youth Leadership and Advocacy, and Whole School Engagement.

This past year, Amy invited the Special Olympics Illinois Volleyball team to her freshman girls Volleyball practice to scrimmage. Everyone who participated had an absolute blast. It was competitive, fun and rewarding for everyone.

Along with her support of Project UNIFY, Amy has chosen to ‘Be bold and Get Cold’ for athletes of Special Olympics Illinois by participating in the Polar Plunge at Twin Lakes in Palatine, Illinois. This is Amy’s sixth year participating in the Polar Plunge and she is ready to take on the challenge again, despite all of the cold weather. Amy not only braves the cold and participates in the Polar Plunge, but she also organizes a team of students to participate in the Polar Plunge Cool School Challenge. This year their team has a total of 13 staff members and 3 very brave young ladies on their team, but they are still recruiting up until the big plunge. Some of Amy’s team members include: Dan Hutton, Hoffman Estates High School Math Teacher and Boys and Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach. Dan has been the only non-Special Education teacher that has plunged for 6 years in a row.

When asked what she enjoys most about the Polar Plunge she says, “I enjoy the adrenaline rush just before jumping in. While you are getting ready to jump in, you see the Special Olympics Illinois athletes cheering you on, that is the best part.”

Ready to Be Bold and Get Cold for the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois? Join us on March 1st, 2015 at Twin Lakes in Palatine, Illinois. Participants can register for the event until 7 a.m. on March 1st. Each participant must raise a minimum of $75. Reaching the minimum also gets participants the official Polar Plunge hooded sweatshirt. Other prizes are awarded at the $250, $500 and $1,000 levels.

For more information on registration, volunteering, or sponsorship, contact: Lauren Del Barto, Manager of Business Development & Partnerships Areas 13/18 at ldelbarto@soill.org or 847-370-7370.

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