Workers meet goal; officials take plunge

McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin called it exhilarating.

Most of the county employees who gathered Friday to watch him plunge into a dunk tank full of ice water called it crazy.

Everyone agreed, though, it was for a good cause.

Austin's plunge into a tank of nearly frozen H2O was part county workers' celebration Friday of a near record-setting performance in their annual drive to raise money for the Special Olympics.

Through 32 separate fund-raisers, workers took in more than $21,000 during the last two months, with more expected at a final event Friday night.

As an incentive to raise more than $18,900, Austin, County Auditor Pam Palmer and Sheriff's Administrator Rich Weinhandl pledged to take a "Polar Plunge" if workers surpassed that initial goal. All three lived up to that pledge Friday with Palmer making the most of it by donning a polar bear costume for her dip.

The money will help send special athletes and their families to events across Illinois, including this weekend's state Special Olympics.

The $21,000 is the most county workers have raised since 2004.

"With the way the economy is right now, with gas prices and food prices, it's amazing we were able to do better than most years," said Denise Ruvolo, a sheriff's department employee and the fund-drive coordinator. "It just shows the dedication McHenry County employees have to Special Olympics."

This is the 10th year county workers have raised money for the Special Olympics. In that time, they have raised about $127,000, Weinhandl said.