Team Captain Toolkit
Photo credit: Robert McDonald
2017 Polar Plunge
for Special Olympics BC
Presented by Westminster Savings
Presented by
#FreezinForAReason
plunge4specialolympics.com
Partnering with
In support of
British Columbia
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Contents
1
What is the Polar Plunge?
2
What is a Plunge team?
3
Role of Team Captain
4
Tips for a winning team
5
About Special Olympics BC
5
The law is on our side
plunge4specialolympics.com
#FreezinForAReason
What is the Polar Plunge?
As an established Special Olympics fundraiser throughout North America, the Polar Plunge has a history of
people laughing and splashing for a cause.
The 2017 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics BC presented by Westminster Savings will have families,
individuals, businesses, and celebrities taking pledges to jump into the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean on
Plunge Day, all to support and raise awareness for Special Olympics BC.
Plungers will be freezin’ for a reason – fundraising to bring quality sport training and competition to individuals
with intellectual disabilities, transforming the lives of children and adults through the joy of sport.
Saturday, March 4, 2017 is when Metro Vancouver will have its chance to take the Plunge.
Special Olympics athletes around the world follow the oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in
the attempt.” Polar Plungers can follow this example by bravely taking a chilly dip!
Visit www.plunge4specialolympics.com for more information.
WHAT
Have fun raising funds, enjoy the festivities of Plunge Day, and then take
the Plunge into the icy waters with your friends, family, or teammates!
WHEN
Saturday, March 4, 10 a.m.
WHERE
WHY
Team Captain Toolkit
Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver
Support
SOBC’s
life-changingprograms
programs for
province-wide!
Support
SOBC’s
life-changing
for 4,400
4,600athletes
athletes
province-wide!
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plunge4specialolympics.com
#FreezinForAReason
What is a Plunge team?
A Plunge team is a group of your friends, family, fellow students, co-workers, or anyone who wants to join
forces to raise money for the Plunge and enjoy the benefits of team building!
Team rules
• Teams must pre-register. No teams attempting to register on the day of the Plunge will be accepted; you will
be considered individual Plungers.
• All team members must pre-register at www.plunge4specialolympics.com; no members can be added to
the team on the day of the event.
• Each team member must raise a minimum of $75 / $50 for students.
Prizing
• There will be a prize awarded to the team that raises the most money and to the team with the best team
costumes.
How to register
• To form a team, visit www.plunge4specialolympics.com and click on Registration.
• Create a team name and register for the Plunge.
• Recruit your co-workers, management, clients, etc. to join your team! Use the Plunge tools provided in the
next section to raise awareness for your team and raise more funds for Special Olympics BC.
• To join a team, go online to www.plunge4specialolympics.com and click Join a Team, then search for your
team name and complete the registration process.
Need help forming your team?
Contact Charlotte Taylor at [email protected] or 604.737.3056
Team Captain Toolkit
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plunge4specialolympics.com
#FreezinForAReason
Role of Team Captain
Discover your inner superhero and create an amazing Polar Plunge team! Nothing brings people together more
than conquering a challenge. The Polar Plunge offers a unique and exciting opportunity for a group to do just
that, with members inspiring each other and supporting a great cause!
Register your team
• Register your team online at www.plunge4specialolympics.com.
• Cool Schools Challenge: teams of students from high schools, colleges, or universities.
• Corporate Challenge: teams of employees representing a company.
• Public Safety: teams featuring law enforcement, fire fighters, EMTs, paramedics, and military
personnel.
• Plunge Teams: groups not affiliated with high schools, colleges, universities, companies, or public
safety. Examples include friends and family, sports organizations, clubs, etc.
Take the lead
• Set a fundraising goal for your team.
• Encourage all your team members to register and fundraise online.
• Provide team members with fundraising tools (provided online).
• Coach and motivate your team to success.
• Organize team-building and fundraising events.
• Stay connected with your team by sending regular emails to update members on your progress and
important event details.
• Plan a Plunge theme with your group, complete with costumes, to help build team spirit.
• Lead the charge into the water on Plunge Day and HAVE FUN!
Team Captain Toolkit
3
plunge4specialolympics.com
#FreezinForAReason
Tips for a winning team
How to be a successful team captain
• Give your campaign a timeline and deadline.
• Have a team kickoff party to get things going.
• Create a friendly rivalry with another Plunge team – challenge them with a friendly bet to see who can raise
more money or sign up the most team members.
• Select a co-captain to help you.
• Organize and delegate team fundraising events.
• Stay organized and track both individual and team progress.
Spread the word!
• Hang posters around your workplace, neighbourhood, school, etc.
• Ask everyone you know to support your warm-hearted efforts.
• Don’t be afraid to cast a wider net to help reach your goals (approaching friends of friends, etc.).
• Remember to follow up.
• Use social media sites to promote your efforts for Special Olympics BC.
• Add the Polar Plunge logo and a link to your personal fundraising page to your email signature.
Team Captain Toolkit
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#FreezinForAReason
plunge4specialolympics.com
About Special Olympics BC
Special Olympics BC provides individuals with intellectual disabilities opportunities to enrich their lives
and celebrate personal achievement through positive sport experiences.
In 1980, Special Olympics BC started out with two weekends of games and about
500 participants. Thirty-six years later, we are providing year-round, high-quality
sport programs and competitions for more than 4,600 athletes in 57 communities
around the province, with the vital assistance of more than 3,900 trained, dedicated
volunteers.
SOBC Locals run up to 18 different sport and youth programs year-round. Athletes
have the chance to gain sport skills and improve their health while enjoying training
that could take them to competitions at local, regional, national, and international
levels. But the benefits from Special Olympics BC programs go well beyond training and competition: our
athletes experience joy and acceptance, cultivate friendships and self-confidence, and feel empowered to
overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
If you admire determination, if you value inclusion and inspiration, then you’re already a fan of Special Olympics.
To learn more about SOBC, visit www.specialolympics.bc.ca.
The law is on our side
For more than 35 years, law enforcement members throughout the world have supported people with
intellectual disabilities through the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR).
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is an innovative initiative powered by
dedicated law enforcement personnel who want to help Special Olympics
athletes experience acceptance, achievement, and admiration through sport.
The LETR movement has raised more than $3 million in British Columbia since
1990. To date, the LETR has raised more than $600 million for Special Olympics
programs around the world.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Many LETR fundraising events take place throughout the year, with various organizations participating including
municipal police departments, RCMP, and special forces such as the Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian
National Police Service, Correctional Service of Canada, and Metro Vancouver Transit Police. Each year the LETR
movement grows bigger and better in Metro Vancouver.
To learn more about the LETR, visit www.specialolympics.bc.ca/letr.
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