Welcome to the Cool School Challenge in Illinois, where we bring the fun of the Plunge right to your school’s campus! Across the state, schools, students, and faculty participate in the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge via the Cool School Challenge to support the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois.
2025 Cool School Challenge
16
Cool School Plunges
8
People Registered
Not a part of the Cool School Challenge? Find out how to get involved.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Step 1: Find a Team Captain
Appoint a designated staff member as Team Captain who will serve as the point of contact between the school and Special Olympics Illinois
Step 2: Contact Us!
Contact Debbie Kelly, dkelly@soill.org or your Regional Plunge Director to get your School registered and a fundraising site created. Pick a date for your school to TAKE THE PLUNGE!!
Step 3: Register Students & Staff
Once your school’s fundraising site has been created, register students and staff who are committed to raising a $100 minimum each
Take the cool school challenge
The Cool School Challenge creates whole-school engagement and an exciting way to give back, all while teaching students about the importance of inclusion and making a positive impact.
How does it work? It’s simple. You work with us to host a Cool School Challenge Polar Plunge on your school’s campus. Specific extracurricular groups or the whole student body (and faculty of course) work together to raise money and support the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois. Click the button below to get started and find out how you can BE COOL and TAKE THE PLUNGE with your school this year.
Register at Your School
Find the location you want to take your ice dip
Participant Testimonials
Check out our COOL Incentives in 2025
$100
Hoodie$250
Carhartt Beanie$500
Plunge Beach Towel$1,000
Windbreaker ¼ zip$2,500
Oversized Sherpa Blanket$5,000
Choice of Carhartt Jacket or Knee Length JacketCool School Contests
Regional
Raise the most money in your region and earn a pizza party for your Plunge team!
Statewide
Be the Cool School that raises the most money in the state, earn a SCHOOL-WIDE pizza party and Cool School Trophy!
2024 COOL SCHOOL
CHALLENGE WINNERS
Congratulations to Andrew High School. The winner of the 2024 Cool School Challenge raising more than $31,000. Thank you for supporting life-changing programing for people with intellectual disabilities and building a more inclusive world.
See the impact joining the Cool School Challenge had on their school and community.
Watch Video
Cool School Leaderboards
School
Resources
Downloadable Guide
Read through this information to learn more about the Cool School Challenge and how it will work at your school.
Communication Toolkit
Visit our Polar Plunge Resources page for our social media toolkit and other fundraising resources
Cool School Resources
Explore the guides to find a variety of fundraising ideas and school engagement opportunities designed to make your Cool School plunge a success.
Become A unified champion school
The Unified Champion Schools strategy works to further develop inclusive learning and social environments for all students, with and without disabilities. By utilizing any of the three components - Unified sports, whole-school engagement, and inclusive youth leadership - schools can elevate the inclusion and unification among their students as well as further social emotional learning for all.
Social Media Toolkit
Share your Polar Plunge journey with your social network and more - you can use the sample posts and graphics below. Please tag Special Olympics Illinois in your posts! And, remember, funds raised through third-party pages (Go Fund Me, Facebook Donations, etc.) cannot be credited towards your fundraising efforts, so please use your personal fundraising link as noted in the sample copy.
Email Banner
DownloadSocial Image
To use in your feed on your favorite social networks
DownloadSocial Image
To use in your feed on your favorite social networks
DownloadSocial Image
To use on social stories on Facebook or Instagram
DownloadSocial Image
To use on social stories on Facebook or Instagram
DownloadSocial Profiles
Special Olympics Illinois Social
Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run