Patchogue Young Professionals and Patchogue Chamber of Commerce are encouraging Long Islanders to “get freezin’ for a reason” at their second Patchogue Plunge, which will benefit the Gabby Petito Foundation.
On Super Bowl Sunday, participants will run into the ocean at the Sandspit Marina, all while raising money for the organization, which was started by the parents of Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old Blue Point woman who made national headlines when she went missing during a cross-country road trip in August 2021 and was later found dead.
“The mission of the foundation is to address the needs of organizations that support locating missing persons and to provide aid to organizations that assist victims of domestic violence situations, through education, awareness, and prevention strategies,” Gabby’s parents wrote. “We wish to turn our personal tragedy into a positive one. It is our hope that Gabby’s foundation will bring these important issues to the forefront of the public eye to the benefit of all our communities.”
Petito’s death was ruled homicide by strangulation. Her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, who was found dead by apparent suicide, and claimed responsibility for her death in a journal.
Participants of the polar plunge will check in at 9:30 a.m on Feb. 13, and the event will kick off at 10 a.m. All proceeds raised by participants will be donated to the Gabby Petito Foundation. There will also be a 50/50 raffle to benefit the nonprofit. Winners will be announced during the “defrost party” at The Tap Room in Patchogue immediately after the plunge.
The Patchogue Plunge is hosted by Patchogue Young Professionals and the Patchogue Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit patchogueyoungprofessionals.com.
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