BEDFORD, N.Y. - The frigid waters of Playland Beach were no match for Fox Lane High School’s school spirit last month, when 24 students took part in the 18th Annual Westchester Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics New York.
Led by senior team captain Sam DeMarco, the Fox Lane Foxes Polar Plunge team exceeded expectations—raising more than $3,400 and marking the school’s biggest turnout in recent years.
For DeMarco, who has participated in the event all four years of high school alongside fellow seniors Tara McNamee and Mia Jacobowicz, the plunge has become a defining tradition.
“I originally got involved because I saw a sign posted in the school about the volunteer opportunity,” he recalled. “I knew the Special Olympics was a great cause and wanted to help. After my first plunge freshman year, I had such a great time that I decided I was going to do it again.”
That enthusiasm quickly turned into leadership. When Fox Lane’s previous captain graduated, DeMarco stepped up, contacting the school adviser and taking on the role of organizing and growing the team.
As captain, DeMarco registered the group, worked closely with Polar Plunge organizers, created promotional materials, visited club meetings, and encouraged students to both join and fundraise. This year, he tapped into the Best Buddies club for new participants and brought Pioneer program students into the event for the first time.
His goals were ambitious. DeMarco hoped to personally raise enough to sponsor a Special Olympics athlete for a year—a milestone he achieved. He also set a team fundraising goal of $3,000, which Fox Lane surpassed by collecting $3,418, enough to support roughly seven athletes.
The reward for all that effort? A bracing but exhilarating dive into 55-degree water.
“This year turned out to be exceptionally good weather with the sun shining,” DeMarco said. “Even though the water felt cold, I was completely submerged. Last year was the coldest because of the wind, but it was still a great time.”
For him, the best memories come not from the temperature or the plunge itself, but from the people who show up year after year.
“My favorite memory is just being able to plunge with my friends each year, having fun while raising money for an important cause,” he said.
DeMarco hopes the excitement continues long after he graduates.
“It’s been nice to see team members who have participated since freshman year come back as seniors, and even bring their younger siblings,” he said. “I think everyone learned that you can have fun while doing volunteer work. My hope is that the Fox Lane Foxes Polar Plunge team continues to grow and raise a lot of money for the Special Olympics with support from our Fox Lane community.”
If the turnout and enthusiasm from this year are any indication, that tradition seems well on its way to lasting far beyond the class of 2025.
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