The weather looks fantastic, the water looks cold, grab your bathing suit and ring in the New Year with a dive into the frigid waters of the Hudson River at the Peekskill Riverfront Green on January 1, 2025 for the 12th Annual Polar Plunge. The annual Polar Plunge is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the This Is Me Foundation co-founded by sisters and Peekskill natives, Caitilin and Lauren Brady.
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Image from a previous Polar Plunge. Photo Credit: This Is Me Foundation
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Image from a previous Polar Plunge. Photo Credit: This Is Me Foundation
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Image from a previous Polar Plunge. Photo Credit: This Is Me Foundation
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The plunge begins at 12:00 p.m. sharp, and the public is invited to attend and cheer on the courageous participants. Those interested in taking the plunge or donating can do so online at www.thisismefoundation.com. Registration is open until December 30, 2024.
All proceeds will support the This Is Me Scholarship Fund, inspired by Ryan Risco and Cait Chivonne Polhill. The fund provides college scholarships to local students who have overcome adversity or supported a friend through challenging times, as well as national scholarships for students living with alopecia.
Since its inception in 2012, the fund has awarded 143 scholarships of $500 each to students locally and nationally. The foundation is proud to announce up to 26 scholarships are available through their 2025 scholarship program. Students can download applications at thisismefoundation.com.
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Photo courtesy: This Is Me Foundation
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Photo courtesy: This Is Me Foundation
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Photo courtesy: This Is Me Foundation
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The 12th annual Polar Plunge is sponsored by The Thomas R. Bertoline Youth Athletic Foundation, Rotary Club of Peekskill, Hope for Youth Foundation, The Shop, and Star Sign & Graphics.
The This Is Me Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about alopecia—an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss—while offering hope to individuals facing adversity. For more information about the Polar Plunge, the This Is Me Foundation, or the This Is Me Scholarship Fund, please visit www.thisismefoundation.com and follow the This Is Me Foundation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Lauren Brady wins She Inspires – Agent of Change Global Award
Last month, on November 21, 2024, Lauren Brady, co-founder and executive director of This Is Me Foundation, was named the winner of the 2024 She Inspires Awards – Agent of Change Global Award. This international accolade honored women who have brought about positive global change through their dedication, hard work, and inspiration in championing diversity, culture, heritage, environment, workplace transformation, or a specific cause.
Photo credit: SheInspiresAwards.com
Brady was one of ten finalists from nine countries vying for this prestigious award, presented during a ceremony held in Bolton, England which she attended virtually via Zoom.
Her recognition stems from her work with This Is Me Foundation.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Agent of Change – Global Award,” Brady said. “This recognition reflects the collective effort of everyone who has supported This Is Me Foundation and its mission to inspire resilience and create meaningful change.”
For more information about Lauren Brady’s work, visit This Is Me Foundation. To learn more about the She Inspires Awards, visit their website at SheInspiresAwards.com.
Don’t forget to tell everyone at the 12th annual Polar Plunge, you read about it in the Peekskill Herald.
December is the final month of the Peekskill Herald’s big annual fundraising campaign – where every dollar donated is matched, dollar for dollar, by major national funders through our partnership with NewsMatch. Please help by donating to keep this 501c3 news organization thriving.
