January 20, 2025
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Ottawa’s Penguin Plunge will be back Jan. 29 at Skydive Chicago

Registration opens for the 12th annual event for Make-A-Wish

By Derek Barichello

The Atomic Penguins lock arms and hands as they jump into the water at Heritage Harbor in Ottawa during the 2019 Penguin Plunge. This year's event will be conducted Saturday, Jan. 29, at Skydive Chicago, just outside of Ottawa. ( )

The pandemic has brought with it uncertainty when it comes to events.

Organizers for the Penguin Plunge in Ottawa announced the event will be back Saturday, Jan. 29, for a 12th year.

The fundraiser to benefit Make-A-Wish Illinois will take place at Skydive Chicago.

Registration begins at noon Jan. 29 with plunging beginning at 1 p.m. There will be live music and food.

There also will be an option to “plunge where you are” if plungers across the state would like to join the fun. A plunger can be creative and plunge in the comfort of their own bath tub or local body of water — to raise money for children with critical illnesses. To form a team or donate to this event, go to http://site.wish.org/penguinplunge22

For additional information, to sponsor or help on the committee, email penguinplunge1@gmail.com

Dedicated teams Shrunken Treasures, Team Francisco and The Chilly Dyli’s have already signed up for this year’s plunge. Vactor Manufacturing in Streator also has pledged to be a sponsor.

Prior to 2021′s virtual event that raised more than $45,000, Penguin Plunge in Ottawa had raised $993,200 since the first splash in 2011. The event has stayed on course, despite the prospect of it being cancelled altogether in 2021. In 2020, it was conducted at the Knights of Columbus in Ottawa and many participants thought it may be the last one, because it was no longer able to take place at Heritage Harbor, which hosted previous events.

Since then, the Make-A-Wish team has solidified plans for future events to make sure children continue to get their wishes granted. A new location was found at Skydive Chicago, just outside of Ottawa. The Penguin Plunge also was adopted as an official Make-A-Wish event.