Paragould Hosts Annual Polar Plunge for Arkansas Special Olympics

Community members raise over $10,000 for Special Olympics athletes through icy dip in Lake Ponder.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The annual Paragould polar plunge was held on Saturday at Crowley's Ridge State Park, raising money for the Arkansas Special Olympics. Participants were able to take the plunge individually or as part of a team, with the top fundraising team bringing in over $6,000. The event featured awards, costumes, and a dip in the chilly waters of Lake Ponder, ultimately raising over $10,000 for the cause.

Why it matters

The Polar Plunge is a key annual fundraiser for the Arkansas Special Olympics, providing critical funding to support athletic competitions and inclusion programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The strong community turnout and high fundraising totals demonstrate widespread support for the Special Olympics mission in the region.

The details

Participants in the Paragould Polar Plunge were able to take the icy dip in Lake Ponder either individually or as part of a team. The top fundraising team brought in over $6,000 for the cause. The event featured awards, costumes, and other festivities before the plunge itself, which took place in the chilly waters of Lake Ponder at Crowley's Ridge State Park.

  • The annual Paragould polar plunge was held on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Skip Shalk

Arkansas Special Olympics Area 1 director.

Christal Shalk

Arkansas Special Olympics Area 1 director.

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What they’re saying

“Just to see our community rally around our Special Olympics athletes and unified partners in Clay, Greene, Lawrence, and Randolph Counties, that we all come together and raise money for such a great cause so that we can do all the events that we do.”

— Skip and Christal Shalk, Arkansas Special Olympics Area 1 directors (kait8.com)

“To have inclusion. Just because our athletes have an intellectual disability, they are still part of our community. They are still part of everything that we do. To give them the opportunities to compete in sports just like everyone else is amazing.”

— Skip and Christal Shalk, Arkansas Special Olympics Area 1 directors (kait8.com)

What’s next

The Arkansas Special Olympics will use the funds raised at the Paragould Polar Plunge to support their year-round sports training and competition programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The takeaway

The strong community support and high fundraising totals from the Paragould Polar Plunge demonstrate the region's commitment to inclusion and providing opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete and thrive through the Arkansas Special Olympics.