The 16th annual PolaRotary Bear Plunge, held at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa on Feb. 1, was extremely successful, reported event founder Dr. Patrick Rains.
There were 140 participants who jumped into the icy cold water of Lake Arrowhead to the cheers of over 200 hundred spectators and raised $65,544 to support 26 different mountain charitable organizations.
Mountains Community Hospital fielded two teams of eight resulting in $4,125 for the hospital Foundation. Rim of the World Educational Foundation raised $4,713, followed by the Blue Jay Jazz Foundation with $3,760 to support music programs in our local schools.
“The benefit for the many nonprofit organizations in our community is always worth the near freezing cold experience!” reported 16-time jumper Dr. Hugh Bialecki, who took the plunge to support the Blue Jay Jazz Foundation.
Wanting to support the Plunge without getting wet, Lynne Wilson of Wilson and Associates Realty and Keller-Williams’ Realtor Cecilia Ponce de Leon became Gold Sponsors with $1,000 donations, as did Smith/Marion CPA Peter Wesch. In addition to being a Gold Sponsor, Coldwell Banker’s Steve Keefe also took the plunge as he has done for years.
Triple Edge Financial, Dave’s Viking Auto and Twin Peaks Auto each donated $500 to become Silver Sponsors.
“This truly is a mountain-wide event, benefiting so many of our mountain residents in a fun, uplifting spirit of community,” reported Rains, who along with Bialecki is the only 16-year participant. Rains’ wife, Jo Bonita, jumping for the Rim of the World Educational Foundation, joined him for 15 of those years.
“Special thanks go out to the Arrowhead Lake Association and the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa for providing not only a beautiful venue, but excellent, professional and congenial support! The outstanding news coverage by both mountain newspapers, the Mountain News and the Alpine Mountaineer, was phenomenal and much appreciated,” said Rains.
In addition to the Silver and Gold Sponsors mentioned above, there were also 32 community-minded businesses and friends of Rotary that became Official Sponsors by donating $200 each.
The Rim High School Audio-Visual Club, under the direction of Mr. Nicholas, filmed and produced a video of the event which will soon be available on YouTube.
Rains encourages more mountain businesses and residents to “Go Jump in the Lake!” at next year’s 17th annual PolaRotary Bear Plunge on Feb. 7, 2026.
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