Special Olympics Wisconsin
Frequently Asked Questions
Online Registration
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Does each person who registers online need a different User Name?
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Does each person who registers online need a different e-mail address?
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Is my Plunge time guaranteed now that I've registered online?
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I never received an e-mail after registering online. How do I know I'm registered?
Team Online Registration
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I need to register my whole team. Can I just submit one registration?
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Can I register for more than one team? Can I Plunge at more than one location?
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What is the maximum number of people that can be on a Plunge team?
Online Donations/Donations
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How can I tell my friends and family how to donate to me online?
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Can I enter donations that I have received in cash or check to my online total?
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How quickly can I expect an online donation to be posted on my Plunger Web page?
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I am missing a donation that was made online. What should I do?
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Does Special Olympics Wisconsin send e-mails or mail to people who donate on my Plunge web page?
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Is there a donation form that I can use for cash and check donations?
General Plunge Questions
Online Registration
What are the benefits of registering for the Plunge online?
By registering online for the Polar Plunge, you can create your own Web page and accept online credit card donations. Your Plunge Web page can be personalized with a picture and message from you.
You can also see a record of each donation you have received online and who it is from. Your Web page has tools that will help you raise donations including an e-mail form that directs people to your donation page.
I forgot my password. What should I do?
Use this form to retrieve a lost password. If you are still unable to retrieve your password, contact info@specialolympicswisconsin.org or call Christina Harris at (800) 552-1324 or (608) 442-5671.
I forgot my User Name. What should I do?
To retrieve a lost User Name, contact info@specialolympicswisconsin.org or call Christina Harris at (800) 552-1324 or (608) 442-5671.
I accidentally registered twice. What should I do?
In order to properly track your online donations, it is best that you only have one online registration record. (unless you are Plunging at more than one location or joining more than one team)
If you have accidentally registered for a Plunge twice, please contact info@specialolympicswisconsin.org or call Christina Harris at (800) 552-1324 or (608) 442-5671 and one of the records will be deleted. Donations linked to the deleted account can be credited to the active account.
Does each person who registers online need a different User Name?
Yes. Each Plunger must have a unique user name to register online in order for the Plunge website to work properly.
Does each person who registers online need a different e-mail address?
No. Because some people share an e-mail address, more than one person can register with the same e-mail address.
Is my Plunge time guaranteed now that I've registered online?
No. If your local Plunge organizers assign Plunge times, you will need to attend a pre-registration event or stop by the registration table the day of the Plunge and sign up for a time. Contact your local Plunge office for more information.
I'm registered online. Why do I need to stop by the check-in table at the Plunge or attend a pre-registration/check-in event?
All Plungers must either stop by the registration table on the day of the Plunge or attend a pre-registration event to turn in donations, sign a waiver and pick up incentives.
I never received an e-mail after registering online. How do I know I'm registered?
Either Log In using your user name and password, contact info@specialolympicswisconsin.org or call Christina Harris at (800) 552-1324 or (608) 442-5671 .
The online registration confirmation e-mail is generated automatically and may be filtered by your e-mail program as spam.
How do I add or change a photo to my online Donation page?
Log in to manage your Plunge Web page. Under "Update your photo" click on "Browse" to choose a photo file from your computer. Then click on "Update Photo". Photos must be jpg format and under 2 MB.
Where did my Plunge picture go?
Special Olympics Wisconsin closely monitors all pictures uploaded to the Polar Plunge website. We reserve the right to delete any inappropriate content including pictures.
Team Online Registration
I need to register my whole team. Can I just submit one registration?
No. Online Plunge registration is set up for each participant. Each Plunger should have a unique user name and password so he or she can raise donations online.
Can I register for more than one team? Can I Plunge at more than one location?
If you would like to Plunge twice with two different teams and collect money online for each team, you need to register for the Plunge online twice and maintain both sets of user names and passwords.
This also applies if you would like to take the Plunge at more than one location.
I'm registered as a Team Captain for one team, but I need to join a different team. What should I do?
Contact Christina Harris at (800) 552-1324 or (608) 442-5671 or e-mail info@specialolympicswisconsin.org to delete a team or change a team's registered team captain.
How do I ask people to join my team?
You can ask people to join your team online by directing them to your Team's Plunge page. Team pages can be found using this search page.
Do all my team members need to be registered online?
No. Each Plunge will have a record of Plungers who have registered online, but Plungers can still register the day of the Plunge or at a pre-registration event.
However, we highly recommend registering for the Plunge online so Plungers are able to get credit card donations online, use e-mail tools to send messages to their friends and family and track their donations online. Also, Plungers who register online are able to receive important information from their local Plunge office prior to the Plunge.
Do I need to be on a team to take the Plunge?
No.
How do I change my team name, fundraising goal or add a team picture?
Only the person registered online as the Team Captain can edit the team name, fundraising goal and upload a team picture. If you are the team captain, log into your Plunger Web page and choose the "Edit your team page" button.
Where did my Plunge team picture go?
Special Olympics Wisconsin closely monitors all pictures uploaded to the Polar Plunge website. We reserve the right to delete any inappropriate content including pictures.
What is the maximum number of people that can be on a Plunge team?
There is no maximum to the number of people allowed on each team. Teams may be split into smaller groups to jump or run into the water on Plunge day.
Online Donations/Donations
How can I tell my friends and family how to donate to me online?
Use the Plunge e-mail Tool (Log In Required) to send a message to your friends and family and direct them to your personal donation page or send an e-mail on your own that includes a link to your Plunge donation web page.
Your personal donation page can also be found if someone searches for you using the Plunger Search Form.
Can I enter donations that I have received in cash or check to my online total?
Yes. First, log in to manage your website. Under "cash/check donations" choose "update this amount" and use the form to add a total amount of donations you have received in cash or check form. If you'd like, you can list donations that you've received by check or cash in your personal message on your Web page
Note: this amount is only for your website. Plunge volunteers and staff will count your cash and check donations prior to you receiving incentive prizes.
How quickly can I expect an online donation to be posted on my Plunger Web page?
Donations should be posted to your Plunger Web page immediately after the online donation is submitted.
I am missing a donation that was made online. What should I do?
If you don't see a donation, first try to refresh, or reload your browser (hit F5). If you still do not see the donation, contact Christina Harris at (800) 552-1324 or (608) 442-5671 or e-mail info@specialolympicswisconsin.org.
Can team members share an online donation?
No. Donations can only be made in the name of an individual Plunger.
I can't participate in the Polar Plunge I registered for. What happens to the donations I've received?
Online donations received will be credited to your local Special Olympics Wisconsin office. If you have raised enough donations to be eligible for an incentive, you can still receive that incentive. Contact your local Plunge office for more information.
A donor wants a receipt. What should I do?
If a donor donates through your Plunge web page, he or she will receive an e-mail receipt if a valid e-mail address was provided on the donation form. To request an additional receipt, contact your local Plunge office.
A donor would like a tax ID number. How can I get it?
Call 1-800-552-1324 Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CST
Does Special Olympics Wisconsin send e-mails or mail to people who donate on my Plunge web page?
No. Special Olympics Wisconsin does not add Polar Plunge donors to our e-mail or mailing lists. These donors will only receive e-mails or mailings from the organization if they are associated with Special Olympics Wisconsin in another way.
What credit cards are accepted in the Secure Donation Site?
Visa, Mastercard and Discover
Is there a donation form that I can use for cash and check donations?
Yes. You can print out a donation form and use it to track your cash and check donations. Then you can turn this in at the Plunge registration the day of the Plunge or at a pre-registration event.
How can I thank donors who have donated to me online?
If the donor provides an e-mail address during the online donation process, this e-mail address will appear next to his or her donation on your online donation page so you can send them a personal thank you. You can also log into your Plunge web page and use the donation thank you e-mail tool.
I have donations on the internet and cash and checks. How will people working at the Polar Plunge know how much money I have raised?
At the Polar Plunge on-site check in and pre-registration (check-in) events, volunteers and staff will have a list of all Plungers registered online including the total amount of donations they have received online. Please print out and bring a copy of your online donations to make sure that you receive credit for donations that may come in after the staff has printed their reports.
Online pledging will continue through March 2011, however incentives will be determined based on the amount raised prior to the Plunge.
General Plunge Questions
What is the Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics?
The Polar Plunge is the largest fundraising effort benefiting Special Olympics Wisconsin in the state. Participants collect donations and Plunge into the frigid waters of Wisconsin. All proceeds collected by Plungers benefit local Special Olympics athletes.
Special Olympics Wisconsin Mission: To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
How did the Polar Plunge begin?
Based on an idea from an International Law Enforcement Torch Run® conference in Alaska in 1998, the Plunge started at Lake Onalaska in the La Crosse area in 1999 and experienced huge success by raising over $30,000. In 2000, four more Special Olympics Wisconsin Areas joined the Coulee Region's efforts and began Plunges of their own with great success. This year, Special Olympics Wisconsin is holding twelve Plunges state wide.
Who can participate?
Anyone with a little guts and a warm heart wanting to support Special Olympics athletes is welcome to participate. In past years, participants have included seven-year-olds to 70-year-olds, congressmen and mayors, police chiefs and officers, company teams, dogs, mothers, high school clubs, fraternities and everyone in between.
How can my corporation get involved?
Monetary and in-kind support is always needed to operate an event this large. Please contact the Special Olympics office in your area to discuss becoming a Polar Plunge Sponsor, how to form a Plunge team with your employees or how to provide matching gifts for Plungers.
What are this year's Incentive levels and prizes?
Am I guaranteed to receive my incentives when I turn in my money?
No. We try to order enough incentives to cover all the Plungers who participate, however if there is a large spike in participant numbers, we may not have everyone's incentives available on site. If you do not receive your incentives the day of the Plunge, they will be shipped to you shortly after the event.. Incentives will be determined based on the amount of money turned in up to the day of the Plunge.
Where can I find more information about my specific Plunge?
Why should I sign up as "Too Chicken to Plunge"?
Too chicken to Plunge? No problem...you can still be a part of the fun! Simply register as a chicken, raise donations, and receive incentives just like a regular plunger except no going into the icy water. It’s a fun way to still be a part of a team while still doing something crazy. Each Plunge location offers something silly to recognize these frozen chickens.
