The icy waters of Lake Michigan witnessed an extraordinary spectacle on March 3 as thousands of brave souls took the plunge for a cause close to their hearts at the 24^th annual Chicago Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Chicago.

Among the participants making waves this year was Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) team “Commish with the Fish,” demonstrating their commitment to community engagement and charitable giving. MWRD President Kari K. Steele, MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia, Commissioner Dan Pogorzelski and Commissioner Eira Corral Sepulveda along with staff volunteered for this iconic event.

"The Chicago Polar Plunge is more than just a dip into icy waters; it's an opportunity to come together as a community and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others," said President Steele. "We are proud to support Special Olympics Chicago and their mission of inclusion and empowerment, and we are honored to take part in this incredible event."

Against the backdrop of the city skyline, plungers were fortunate to have mild early-March weather as they braved the frigid waters.

“The water was a little chilly but that wasn’t a deterrent for us,” said MWRD Vice President Flynn.  “Through initiatives like the Chicago Polar Plunge, MWRD Commissioners and staff walk the walk and demonstrate our dedication to making a positive impact beyond our core mandate of wastewater treatment, stormwater management and environmental stewardship.”

Special Olympics is the world’s largest program for sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, inspiring greatness in more than 5 million athletes in 172 nations worldwide. The first International Special Olympics Games were held on July 20, 1968 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Since then, Special Olympics Chicago has grown to serve thousands of athletes, offering year-round sports training and competition in 22 sports.