CITGO Team Makes a Splash at Polar Plunge for Special Olympics

CITGO Lemont Refinery employees made a big splash at the 2023 Polar Plunge at the Braidwood Recreation Club. The CITGO team, along with a corporate donation, raised a total of $14,353 for Special Olympics Illinois. They also brought home three awards from the event including Most Money Raised by an Individual, Golden Years Plunger, and Best Costume. The team of 14 made the plunge in CITGO safety gear, hard hats and all, and polar bear costumes. The Braidwood Polar Plunge event raised over $63,000 for Special Olympics of Illinois from 339 participants who took the plunge.

“CITGO is proud to support the Special Olympics Illinois Polar Plunge,” said Jim Cristman, CITGO Lemont Vice President and General Manager. Cristman added that CITGO employees participate in many Special Olympics events, on and off the field, throughout the year.

Special Olympics has raised nearly $27 million by more than 87,000 Plungers since the event’s inception 24 years ago. Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL) provides year-round opportunities in competitive sports, health education, leadership, and personal development to people with intellectual disabilities. They have programs in 11 regions in Illinois and reach over 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities each year.

Photo Credit:  CITGO

Article originally appeared at https://www.mylhgguide.com/2023/03/30/citgo-team-makes-splash-polar-plunge-special-olympics