The Town of Rutland welcomed the new year with a polar plunge to support Glenwood Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
Just over 100 people of all ages plunged into Rutland State Park’s White Hall Pond, which had a thin layer of ice sitting on its surface.
Alicia Laurenzi began preparing for this event back in August. She explains that a polar plunge hasn’t been held in Rutland since 2022, so she decided to bring it back to raise money for Glenwood’s PTO.
However, when she heard about Patrick Sullivan losing his wife and newborn twins in recent days, she wanted to use this event as an opportunity to help the family out.
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All merchandise sales made during the event will be given to the Sullivan family.
“He’s such an integral part of our community that it’s heartbreaking,” explains Glenwood Elementary Principal Karen Cappucci.
She says Sullivan and Rutland Fire Department do so much for the students throughout the year including what they call “high-five Fridays,” where kids get to interact with firefighters once a month.