demonstrate courage
January 9, 2014
Oregonians Credit Union expects to report an increase in its Frozen Assets next month, but there��s no reason to alert the examiners and regulators. Chilly as the news may sound, these assets will be freezing for a good cause.
Frozen Assets, you see, is a team of Oregonians employees and members who will leap into the icy waters of the Columbia River on Feb. 8, when Special Olympics stages the first of five Polar Plunges across Oregon. The Assets will make their splash around 11 a.m. at Broughton Beach off North Marine Drive in Portland, following a costume contest and other festivities.
Plungers will also make a splash in Eugene and Corvallis that day. On Feb. 15, there��ll be two more Polar Plunges, in Bend and Medford.� All of the proceeds will help to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympics-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
��The other day, I was on the Max train and looked down at the frigid grey waters of the Willamette River and thought that only a fool would jump in, especially in the dead of winter,�� says Char Shinn, Oregonians�� vice president of business and community development.� ��Our event is in the Columbia River, so it��s probably even colder. I can��t believe I said I would do this!��
� But she did �� and so did 13 other credit union staffers and members, some of whom have taken the plunge two or three times before. The credit union has set a fundraising goal of $1,500, but Shinn says there��s an added incentive to raise more.
��If we raise $2,000, our executive vice president, Sam Launius, will jump, too,�� she says. ��I think we can easily hit that goal.��
There are three ways to help make that happen:
- Buy a See��s candy bar at any Oregonians branch between now and Feb. 8. Proceeds go to Special Olympics Oregon, and you��ll be entered in a drawing for a two-pound box of chocolates.
- Donate to a Frozen Assets team member online. You��ll find them on the team page here.
- Or join the team! Just click the link on the team page