LONG BEACH, NYÂ (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) -Â With sunny skies and water temperatures around 30 degrees, the SUNY College at Old Westbury Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), along with athletic department personnel and fans joined thousands of others on the sands of Long Beach, NY, to take to the Atlantic Ocean for the annual Long Beach Polar Bears Super Bowl Splash this past Sunday, February 2.Â
The Old Westbury athletic department was proud to see its student-athletes from SAAC get out and make the plunge to help contribute to the entire community-wide effort in raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York, alongside of the thousands of total plungers who made the dive into freezing cold water – all for a great cause.Â
2014 marked the first time Old Westbury's SAAC has participated in the Long Beach Polar Bears Super Bowl Splash. The SAAC plans to be even more of a force in the years to come, as the student-athletes continue to fundraise and show support in the community.   Â
About Long Beach Polar Bears
What would become the Long Beach Polar Bears started innocently enough on Super Bowl Sunday in 1998. Two terrific guys – Kevin McCarthy and Pete Meyers – decided it would be fun to jump into the Atlantic Ocean for a quick dip before the game. Stories flew around town about how much Kevin and Pete enjoyed their swim. (At least that's what they said!) Mike Bradley asked Kevin and Pete if they would like company on Super Bowl Sunday in 1999. They readily agreed, and Mike brought along his brother P.J. Bradley to join in the swim.
Patti and Mike Bradley had been searching for a fitting memorial to Paulie, one that would keep his loving heart and generous spirit alive for everyone. It was P.J. who asked: what if the annual Polar Bear Swim were to be a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Metro New York? We are grateful that Kevin and Pete generously and enthusiastically agreed that it was a wonderful idea to turn their swim into a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish® Metro New York. So, on Super Bowl Sunday 2000 the Long Beach Polar Bear Club jumped into the freezing ocean with warm hearts, startled shouts and determination.
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