Plainfield Man Prepares For His 13th Annual Polar Plunge

PLAINFIELD, IL — To some ComEd employees and executives, one 48-year-old Plainfield resident is known as the "original plunger." Why? Not only has he been participating in the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics for 13 years, but he can also be credited with initiating ComEd Coolers, a team of more than 500 people who participate in the fundraising event annually.

Arturo Chavez, who has lived in the Plainfield/Shorewood area since 1999, is preparing to jump into ice-cold water for his 13th year on March 6. Though normally he is among the throng of people plunging at North Avenue Beach in Chicago, he's participating virtually this year due to COVID-19 protocols currently in place at ComEd.

This year won't be his first time participating virtually. Last year, Chavez said he jumped into a fresh pile of snow "while it was super windy and cold," rolled around and made a few snow angels as his contribution to the event. He's still deciding how and where he'll plunge this year, he said.

Enjoying spontaneity and "stuff that some people would consider [as having] shock value," Chavez had the Polar Plunge on his bucket list for years before deciding to take the first leap.

"I always knew it was for a good cause, but I just never took the time to do it," he said. "One year, I just decided I'm going to do this and I put the word out on social media ... and to my surprise, people were like, 'Yeah, you know what? I'll join you.'"

It started small. Several people joined him that first year, and he dedicated his jump to his cousin, who has special needs. Over the years, he continues to honor his cousin, as well as several others with disabilities.

"I put a little story together [about the honorees]," he said. "I admire their kids' strength ... but their strength as well bc I always say it takes a special parent to take care of a special child."

When the day comes for Chavez and his team to jump — be it in Lake Michigan or elsewhere — lots of motivation is necessary. Even as someone who likes an adrenaline rush, Chavez said jumping into cold water isn't easy.

"It’s cold every time," he said. "It’s going to hurt every time. … Your feet do go numb for a brief second."

In the moments leading up to the plunge, he said he reminds himself that what he's doing is for a great cause. Instead of focusing on the pending iciness covering his body, he said he motivates the people around him who are feeling similar sentiments.

"It takes my mind off of myself," he said.

After two years of plunging on his own volition, Chavez decided to approach ComEd, where he works as a supervisor, and see if the company was willing to sponsor a team or donate to the cause. Hence the birth of ComEd Coolers, a team of Polar Plungers formed by ComEd employees and their friends and family.

Chavez said ultimately, he can be credited for initiating this fundraising venture at the company, one that has grown to include more than 700 participants who take the plunge and raise money for Special Olympics annually. Over the last decade, according to a news release, ComEd teams have raised nearly $2 million for Special Olympics Chicago.

"The athletes and what they do, I find it very inspirational to me that they don't let the obstacles that they were dealt and born with bother them," Chavez said. "They're very resilient and I just find that very motivational. This is the least I can do. But I'll admit, I have a great time every time."

So many people join the ComEd Coolers team — which started with just 75 people in its first year — that Polar Plunge organizers have had to make special arrangements by creating sub-teams, Chavez said.

One vice president even refers to him as ComEd's "original plunger," Chavez told Patch.

Just like the ComEd Coolers team that has amassed over the years, Chavez's goal is hefty: To have 1,000 people join the team and raise $1 million in one year.

"I think it's attainable," he said. "It keeps growing every year."