Park Ridge Man To Take Polar Plunge With Special Olympian Son

CHICAGO, IL - Joseph Svachula will once again enter the icy waters of Lake Michigan in Chicago in early March for the annual Polar Plunge event that benefits Special Olympics Chicago. The Park Ridge man has done it every year since his employer, ComEd, began participating in the event at North Avenue Beach in 2012.

This year, he'll go at it with his 21-year-old son Danny, a Special Olympian with Down syndrome. Joe and Danny will be members of the ComEd Coolers, one of the largest teams at the event.

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The older Svachula is the vice president of Smart Grid and Technology at ComEd and serves on the board of directors for Special Olympics Chicago. He works year-round to contribute to the awareness of Special Olympics Chicago and its various programs.

This year's Polar Plunge will be held on Sunday, March 4 at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. Not all those who attend and support Special Olympics will have to brave the incredibly cold waters, though. A "Melt Down Party" is planned from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. that day at the boat house.

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