Pre-plunge pasta dinner helps para-athletes

By Julianna Bonnett

A pasta dinner Feb. 2 at the Heimat Windsor Banquet Centre helped Special Olympics Ontario get almost $1,000 closer to their annual fundraising goal.

More than 50 St. Clair College students attended the feast featuring pasta, prizes and raffle draws, all held in anticipation of the 5th Annual Polar Plunge taking place next Friday in Windsor. The plunge is expected to help Special Olympics Ontario get much closer to their 2019 fundraising goal of $400,000.

“This is all very close to my heart and that’s why I do it,” said dinner organizer Sara Stiller, who has spent the last two years spending her free time helping para-athletes. Stiller, whose cousin has autism, said raising money for the Special Olympics programs in Ontario is something she’s always wanted to do.

“Working with St. Clair College gave me the avenue I needed to make this happen,” she said.

The very first Polar Plunge took place 18 years ago in Rochester, New York and raised $15,000 for the Special Olympics. Last year, Polar Plunge Windsor raised more than $54,000; the pasta dinner alone contributed $950 to the cause.

Banquet Centre owner Ryan Stiller said he’s happy to host the annual event.

“I’m always happy to help out the community that has helped out our business so much,” said Stiller. “We are always happy to support local charities.”

The plunge will take place Feb. 15 at the St. Clair College Sportsplex. Registration and pre-plunge fun starts at 10 a.m. with participants taking the dive at noon. For more information on how to participate, click here.