Jen Kramer's taking the plunge!
To all of my most favorite friends and family -
The fun and freezing is here again! The 12th Annual Polar Plunge takes place on Sunday, March 4th to benefit the 5,000 athletes of Special Olympics Chicago.
This is the 9th year I've jumped into Lake Michigan for Special Olympics. 9 years, 9 costumes, 9 opportunities to make a difference. I just can't imagine NOT doing the Plunge. It's become a permanent date on my calendar.
You've so generously answered my donation requests, some of you every single year. You continue to honor me, yourselves and humanity by donating so graciously. You are the reason I have been able to personally raise over $105,000 for this charity so near and dear to my heart. I hope this year you might considering a donation again, either large or small. I'm playing a big game - aiming to raise $30,000. (I ended up raising just over $25,000 for the 2011 Plunge).
Excited to also be able to tell you that coinciding with the Plunge this year in March, I am also going to become the President of the Special Olympics Chicago board. I'm honored and thrilled to continue to contribute to the organization that I know is making a huge difference in the lives of so many people.
It's been said that Special Olympics is humanity's greatest classroom. Lessons of ability, acceptance and inclusion are taught on the fields of competition by our greatest teachers, the athletes themselves. They practice and compete, and in turn I learn, grow and get inspired. I am passionate about Special Olympics. Not just because it's a sports organization for people with disabilities, but because it's a catalyst for social change. An opportunity for ALL of us to practice pure love and profound acceptance. I know many of you have had the amazing experience of being with a special needs athlete - and have gotten a dose of that unconditional love for life and people. It changes us. There's no doubt about it.
In the summer of 1968, the first ever Special Olympic games were held at Chicago's very own Soldier Field. Mayor Richard J. Daley, after attending the games predicted "The world will never be the same after this."
Truer words have yet to be spoken.
All of my love and appreciation -