Wind, light snow and frigid temps didn’t stop Graycor’s team from participating in Special Olympics Indiana’s 2017 Polar Plunge in Valparaiso, Indiana. Graycor served as a sponsor for the Feb. 25 Freezin’ For A Reason charity event, which was hosted by Valparaiso University to benefit and raise awareness for Special Olympics Indiana.

Among the more than 100 who braved the bitter cold, some barely clad, Graycor’s team members each took a leap for charity into the chilly pool situated outside of the university’s gymnasium.

Team Graycor—comprised of employees from Graycor Industrial Constructors and Deep South Crane and Rigging, a Graycor subcontractor—received recognition for having raised $14,500, the most money as a team. Special Olympics Indiana also awarded Jay Beere, general superintendent for Graycor Industrial, as top individual fundraiser.

The team’s contributions will help provide year-round sports and training competitions to more than 11,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout Indiana.

Jay’s daughter Tara, who is a sophomore at VU, helped direct and organize this year’s Freezin’ For A Reason event, which raised more than $41,000 to benefit Special Olympics athletes throughout the state where 18 Polar Plunges are being held. Tara began raising community awareness about Special Olympics in high school and helped form Graycor’s inaugural team last year, as well as this year’s team.

“I want to encourage more people to join in this important event next year,” says Jay. “We have a unified goal of raising awareness and funds for programs to assist adults and children with intellectual disabilities,” he adds.