Five Knights from the Father Julius J. Cilinski Council 10947 of the Knights of Columbus, at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton and St. Jude Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Chantilly, participated in the 2022 Polar Plunge Jan. 15 at the Mosaic District shopping area in Merrifield to support Special Olympics Virginia. More than 100 plungers participated in 24-degree weather, raising $48,000, organizers said.
Through the Polar Plunge, volunteers provide free year-round sports, competitions, leadership opportunities and health services to more than 23,000 Special Olympics athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities.
The five Knights taking the plunge in an outdoor above-ground pool raised $5,500. The team was second in overall donations. Organizers added that the Knights are the largest fundraising group for the event statewide.
