Combining freezing water with warmhearted individuals, the first Polar Plunge at the UW will take place Saturday in support of Special Olympics Washington as individuals, organizations and businesses collect donations by pledging to jump into the frigid waters of Lake Washington.

Spearheading the event on campus are the UW Police Department (UWPD) and a committee of MBA students from the Foster School of Business who are involved in a nonprofit organization called Challenge for Charity. The Seattle Police Department and the Washington State Patrol are participating as well.

“Polar Plunge is an awesome opportunity to do something on the edge while being a part of the larger UW community,” said Monisha Harrell, a second-year graduate student in the Foster School and student coordinator of Challenge for Charity. “It’s a great way to add to your education by knowing that you can have fun and give back at the same time.”

Twenty-five students from Challenge for Charity have volunteered their time to raise awareness for the event by distributing posters and setting up booths in front of the HUB.

“Several hundred students took flyers from us and seemed excited about participating,” Harrell said. “Hopefully, some of those people will turn into plungers.”

While not jumping into freezing lakes to raise money, members of Challenge for Charity annually put on the “Best of the Northwest Auction and Gala,” which has raised more than $880,000 cumulatively. Fifty-one percent of the money has gone to Special Olympics and 49 percent has supported Boys and Girls Clubs of King County. This year, Harrell said, the group hopes to reach the $1 million mark.

A recent polar plunge fundraiser in Maryland raised more than $2 million. While the organizers of this event aren’t expecting that much money to be raised this year, they are hopeful that the event will grow in magnitude as awareness grows.

Having worked with Special Olympics for more than 15 years, the UWPD has 10 people signed up to do the plunge this year.

“Most Americans are involved in sports in some way and enjoy that opportunity to compete,” said UWPD Assistant Police Chief Ray Wittmier. “This is just giving some fellow citizens that same opportunity and pleasure no matter what level they are competing at.”

Each participant must raise a minimum of $50 to participate and receive an official Polar Plunge T-shirt. In addition to incentive prizes for the top fundraiser and the largest group of plungers, the campus organization that collects the most pledges will have a large banner advertising their success hung in Red Square.

Both the UWPD and members of Challenge for Charity plan to participate in this event in future years, as they see it as an important way to give back to the community.

“It’s not just one moment,” Harrell said. “It’s a lot of smaller moments of satisfaction in knowing you are doing something positive — to see them succeed and accomplish things and to see that joy that comes with it. You can make a real connection and you know you are helping to shape their futures.”

Reach reporter Heather Milligan at news@dailyuw.com.