After Pandemic Hiatus, Polar Bear Plunge Raises Record Sum For Heart Of The Hamptons

With a crowd akin to a summertime day — and a full Coopers Beach parking lot to match — Saturday’s Polar Bear Plunge in Southampton raised over $300,000 for Heart of the Hamptons.

The fundraising sum, as of Saturday, December 11, was a record for the event’s in-person iteration. In 2020, the event went virtual, raising over $500,000, according to Molly Bishop, who took the reins of Heart of the Hamptons in June.

“We were thrilled with how many people came out to show support,” Bishop said, adding that she was “really happy that the weather held out.”

The importance of the event after a period of immense hardship and economic strain was top of mind for Bishop. Heart of the Hamptons offers food assistance, crisis intervention, medical assistance funding, aid for seniors and school supplies to over 1,000 households each year, according to the organization’s website.

“It has been really remarkable to see how many people in our community need ongoing support to deal with and recover from the effects of the pandemic,” Bishop said.

From longtime and costume-sporting participants — merman, anyone? — to first-timers, Saturday’s crowd jumped, dipped and (mostly) tippy-toed into the winter’s waters before scurrying back to shore.

While certainly not the wintry December day typical for the East End — Saturday’s air temperature, a balmy 55 degrees — rough waters and currents were a concern for swimmers and emergency workers alike.

“Oh my god those waves are big,” said Heather Wolters of Manor Park, just before heading toward the ocean to prepare for her first Polar Bear Plunge. “I’m a little nervous with the waves, but I’ll just hold someone’s hand.”

Wave heights peaked around 2 feet and sea surface temperatures ranged just above 50 degrees, according to Surfline, a surf forecasting site.

“The current looks strong,” said Suzanne Hurteau, the acting chief of police in Southampton Village, while watching from the deck at Coopers Beach. “We have our ocean rescue crew out there — I have the utmost confidence in them.”

Michael Wootton, treasurer of the village’s ocean rescue squad, said a drop-off in the sand just beyond the water’s edge was his concern.

But in the end, all went well, Wooton said.

“The crowd was well behaved, they were in and out,” he said. “There were no issues, the ocean was warm, and the weather cooperated.”

Delaney Jones, a program coordinator for Heart of the Hamptons, said she was especially thankful for the turnout this year.

“Every year the community really surprises us with all the support that they show us,” she said.

Nicholas Menghini and Eric Simioni, both of Southampton, often completed the plunge while attending high school. The two remarked at the turnout, noticing that the crowd seemed typical despite the foggy day.

“I haven’t done it in six years. We’ve been in college the whole time,” Menghini said. When the task was done, he remarked at the water’s temperature: “It’s not that bad, actually.”

“I feel amazing; I feel like a new man,” Simioni said. “The water’s warmer than the air: You get out and it feels like a drop-cold day in the Bahamas — what a time to be alive.”