TAKING THE PLUNGE: Bennett Harrison shakes water from his hair after sliding in the 2023 Polar Bear Plunge. Harrison, who finished in second place, represented Called to Care.

TIFTON — The season of giving is set to continue Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, with the return of the annual Polar Bear Plunge. Eight locals are slated to make the slide into the Tiftarea YMCA pool on that date at 11 a.m., completing their campaigning for local charities.

For those who enjoy watching the plungers hit chilly water, this is not shaping up to be that type of year. The most recent forecast predicts 60 degrees on Jan. 1. Rain chances have dropped tremendously, too, from what was initially predicted last week.

“It may be cool outside, but it’ll warm their hearts with a donation,” said Tiftarea YMCA CEO Jason Bishoff.

Bishoff announced those making the dive are Mike Beeman for the ABAC Foundation; Nick McClellan for Families for Christ; David Pollock for YMCA pickleball scholarships; Kim Royal for Union Dream Center; Dr. Mac Sims for Steadfast Wildlife Rescue Rehab Inc.; Vicki Taft for Hospice of Tift Area, Inc.; Dr. Bret Wagenhorst for Meals on Wheels and Sam Wright for Brother Charlie’s Rescue Center. The eighth plunger will be for the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence. Bishoff said that person has not been determined yet.

The person who raises the most for his or her charity will get 100% of the proceeds. Everyone else gets a 50-50 split with the local Y. There is one big requirement to get those percentages of donations. Their representative has to slide.

The deadline is Dec. 28 to donate to the plungers. For those in a hurry, donations can be done online on the TIftarea Y’s website (https://www.tiftareaymca.org/polar-bear-plunge/), by clicking on a photo of each participant.

Bishoff said the race is tight with not much separating the top contestants. Winners will be announced at the event. “It’s very close right now,” he said.

“Any donations might could help your person win,” said Bishoff.

Paul Horst, representing Tift Area Greenways Association (TAGA), was the big winner for 2023. Beeman won for Ruth’s Cottage in 2022. Wagenhorst is a previous winner as well, doing so in 2020 for Meals on Wheels. At the time, Wagenhorst said it was only appropriate that his specialty as an ophthalmologist win that year since 20/20 is also a reference to vision. The Polar Bear Plunge began as a charitable event in Tifton in 2013.

As always, there is the chance for creativity in the costumes. Bishoff has heard rumors of a pickle outfit. Normally one of participants, Bishoff said a wrist injury is keeping him out of the water this time.

After the Polar Bear Plunge, attendees can play pickleball on the Y’s new covered courts.