The biggest fundraising event of the year for the Maryland Special Olympics is the annual Polar Bear Plunge held the last week in January at Sandy Point State Park. This was the 30th year for the plunge.

My name is William “Wild Bill” Ganz and I am the American Legion Department of Maryland Special Olympics Chairman. This was my 15th plunge.

The event is sponsored by the Maryland State Police, and the American Legion Family is a welcome participant in this event. We plunged with 92 law enforcement agencies.

The air temperature was 14, and the water temperature was 31. This year, because of the weather conditions, you could only go in up to your knees. It wasn’t because we were chicken - it was a safety issue. Maryland Special Olympics raised over $4.2 million. Our American Legion Family Plunge Team raised $43,606 and captured a plaque for the “Top Military Fundraising Team.” I received a plaque for the “Top Individual Fundraiser” for the 2026 Police Plunge by raising over $22,167.