2020 Polar Plunge for Catholic Education

Sea Bright - Approximately 1,000 participants packed Sea Bright’s public beach as part of this year’s Polar Plunge for Catholic Education. Organized by Jim Shaw and the Middletown Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 2, the goal of this event was to raise money to help support Catholic education programs in the area. This year alone, over $200,000 was raised for over 40 Roman Catholic education programs with St Mary’s Mother of God church alone raising $46,000. No schools were charged to participate in the event, with the AOH paying for all fixed costs with a seperate pub crawl fundraiser which in turn allowed for donations to go 100% back to the schools that raised the money. When Sea Bright life guards gave the signal, Jim Shaw led the crowd as they rushed into the rough and chilly 45 degree waters to the cheers of the crowd of supporters.