Medford Teen Raises Over $1,400 For This Year's Polar Plunge

MEDFORD, NY — A charitable Medford teen recently raised over $1,000 for a Polar Plunge event.

Emily Volpe participated in the "Freezin For a Reason" Splish Splash Polar Plunge on April 17, which raised money for local Special Olympic athletes.

The 15-year-old has participated in the event five years in a row. However, this year she raised more money than ever at a total of $1,400 for the charity.

She credits most of the fundraising to her family, who helped gather donations from local business owners, including sponsors local real estate agent Stephen King and Donaldson Interiors.

Both contributed over $250 to Volpe's cause.

While Volpe was excited to participate in the event once again this year, the plunge looked different due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Volpe, normally everyone goes at one time to take a plunge in the cold water, but this year, everyone went separately, staying within the same small group.

This isn't the teen's only charitable endeavor.

"Since elementary school, I've been into fundraising, so I kind of figured, why wouldn't I do it?" she said.

She's also raising money for her school's musical that she is a part of and also makes donations to the local Almost Home Animal Shelter. In addition, she's raising money for St. Judes, the Holtsville Ecology Center, the YMCA, Epilepsy walks, and Suicide walks.