By Julia Train
Every year, on the first of January, both locals and visitors gather at several beaches along the coast to jump in the freezing cold water to start the new year on the right foot.
Most plunges are started by already-established charities, but Brigantine’s plunge has a different story.
Twenty-five years ago, a group of 25 patrons of the now-closed Rod & Reel decided to take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Day. Each year, that number grew, forming the Brigantine Polar Bears.
“Now 5,000 people show up and 2,000 go in the water and it’s become a big deal,” said Tricia Cosgrove, the group’s event planner. “And the town is renewed because people come down for Christmas and New Year’s.”
Eventually, the group decided to turn their New Year’s Day plunge into a fundraiser for veterans, as Brigantine is a veteran-centered city. After researching veteran charities, the Polar Bears landed on Fisher House, a Maryland-based organization that provides free housing and support to families of veterans undergoing medical treatment. Cosgrove said Fisher House stood out because 97% of the money they raise goes directly to veterans, while others give 50-60%.
The annual plunge takes place on Brigantine’s 16th and 17th Street beaches on Jan. 1. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. with music, dancers, food trucks and BearWear sales. BearWear, which is the group’s unique name for its merchandise, is sold from Black Friday to New Year’s Day and is how the event raised money.
Since the event’s inception, it has grown significantly, from 10 sponsors to 200 and raising $200 to up to $80,000 each year.
Cosgrove said the amount the group has donated has accumulated to $1 million.
“To build a Fisher House, you need $9 million, so they’re not going to build a Fisher House in our Brigantine honor. They might put a plaque in the bathroom,” she said. “[It’s] the only fundraiser that Fisher House [sponsors] that’s a Polar Bear Plunge.”
She also said that Fisher House’s chief of staff, president and other employees attend the event every year.
The plunge itself kicks off at noon after a veterans ceremony at 11 a.m. and a costume parade. Beach permits for 4×4 vehicles will be waived until 1 p.m., when the event concludes.
After the plunge, 50/50 winners will be announced at the VFW at 1 p.m., and post-plunge parties will be held at local establishments, with BearWear available for purchase at the VFW and Riptide Bait and Tackle.
The Polar Bear Plunge is free to attend and open to everyone, though participants who want to take the plunge must sign a waiver. The event attracts both seasoned plungers and newcomers, all eager to brave the cold for a great cause.
For more information on the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, visit the event’s official Facebook page: Brigantine Polar Bears, A NJ Non Profit Corporation. The nonprofit’s page provides details about the plunge, how to participate and how to purchase event T-shirts to support Fisher House.
Julia is a recent Rider University graduate, where she studied multiplatform journalism and social media strategies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, photography and the beach. She can be reached at juliatrainmedia@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
