The Visor

Milo and Donatelli participate in chilly Food Bank fundraiser

March 11, 2010

Jules Libertin

The frigid temperatures and blistering wind did not stop hundreds of people on Feb. 20 from jumping into the ice cold Portage Lakes. Yes, people jumped into a lake voluntarily in the middle of winter. They were participating in the Polar Bear Club’s annual dip and fundraiser.

“Oh my gosh it was cold,” world cultures teacher Greg Milo said. “Even though it was cold, I enjoy jumping into the unknown and it was for a good cause so I did it.”

This is the sixth year the jump has taken place. It raises money to support the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, which is a non-profit organization that provides food and other basic needs to more than 370 agencies around the area.

“The Food bank has seen an unprecedented increase in demand for emergency food,” Dan Flowers, president and chief executive officer of the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, told reporters. “This event will help us provide over 140,000 meals to help feed hungry people in the communities we serve.”

The participants raised funds by collecting pledges from family and friends who watched them jump into the chilly water. Each jumper raised at least $25.

“I think it is a great fundraiser,” math teacher Paul Donatelli said. “You get to do something idiotic with like-minded people for a good cause. I have been involved with it for four years but was unable to jump this year because I was sick.”

This unorthodox fundraiser started behind event organizer Heather Parsos’s lakeside home. After two years the event drew such a large crowd that it was moved to the state park. When the event started to grow Parsos made t-shirts and beach towels with the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Club’s logo, as well as 50/50 raffle tickets to help raise more money.

This year the 400 jumpers raised around $40,000 dollars.

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