CHICAGO — It was "polar plunge" week for Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities. Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) was able to convince Cook County Sheriff Tim Dart into taking a a "polar shower" Friday at Mount Greenwood Elementary School.

The Chicago Polar Plunge is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities organization and supports more than 60 percent of the year-round programming and activities provided to the athletes in the city. All money raised stays within the city of Chicago to help support the 7,500 athletes of the Special Olympics Chicago program.

Due to COVID-19, the Chicago Polar Plunge went virtual for the first time in its 21-year-history. O’Shea, Dart, Sen. Bill Cunningham (18th District) and State Rep. Fran Hurley (35th District) have participated in the Chicago Polar Plunge at North Avenue beach for several years. Ald. O’Shea is a member of the board of directors of Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities and served as president from 2018-2020. Mt. Greenwood school is one of the largest Chicago Public Schools in the 19th Ward, the community that is home to Dart, Cunningham, O’Shea and Hurley.