CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Although not as “polar” as in years past, more than 670 ComEd employees, led by former Chicago Bear great Otis Wilson, still diligently plunged into Lake Michigan this Sunday for the 17th annual Polar Plunge in benefit of Special Olympics Chicago. This year, the ComEd Coolers were once again the event’s largest group and raised more than $270,000.
Hosted by Special Olympics Chicago at Chicago’s North Avenue Beach, the Polar Plunge fundraiser encourages participants to run into Lake Michigan and benefits approximately 6,800 athletes from Special Olympics Chicago.
“The Polar Plunge is one of our favorite events and is a true testament to the giving spirit of our employees. As our largest volunteer event for the past several years, we have been able to raise more than half a million dollars for Special Olympics Chicago since 2012,” said Anne Pramaggiore, ComEd President and CEO. “We are honored to be a part of this great event to bring visibility and awareness to Special Olympics Chicago and the wonderful athletes it supports.”
ComEd has raised more than $793,000 for Special Olympics Chicago since starting to plunge in 2012. [Click HERE to read about the personal connections many ComEd employees have to the organization and “why they plunge.”]
Special Olympics Chicago estimates more than 6,000 plungers will participate this year and raise approximately $1.5 million. The exact amount collected won’t be known until a few weeks after the plunge. All plungers are required to raise a minimum of $200 to jump into Lake Michigan.
The Polar Plunge funds are used by Special Olympics Chicago to support year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
ComEd has a strong tradition of engagement in programs and initiatives administered by local nonprofit organizations and institutions. Last year, ComEd employees broke company records by volunteering more than 22,000 hours - more than at any other time in the company’s history. In addition, ComEd employees serve on the boards of more than 90 nonprofit agencies and educational institutions, and can be found throughout the year volunteering with organizations making a difference in the communities where we live and work.
About ComEd
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 7.8 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170306005922/en/
