Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico welcomed Councilwoman Jane Bonner, Special Olympics New York athlete Matthew Schuster and Rebecca Hoffmann, director of development for Special Olympics New York’s Long Island Region, for a special episode of Supervisor On the Air on September 28, highlighting the upcoming Brookhaven Polar Plunge at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai.
The annual Polar Plunge will take place on November 21, with check-in and festivities from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and the plunge into the Long Island Sound beginning at 11:30 a.m. Proceeds from the event benefit Special Olympics New York and help provide year-round sports training, competition and inclusion programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
During the program, the guests discussed the impact Special Olympics has had on athletes and their families and how funds raised through the Polar Plunge make those opportunities possible. Schuster, a Long Island resident who has participated in Special Olympics for 35 years, shared his experiences as an athlete and longtime Polar Plunge participant. Earlier this year, Schuster represented New York in swimming at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota, where he was among 82 athletes and Unified partners representing the state.
Bonner has supported and participated in the Cedar Beach Polar Plunge for more than a decade and has taken the plunge alongside Schuster for many years. This year, Schuster will also be joined by members of his swim team, the Long Island Hurricanes, who plan to take the plunge in support of Special Olympics New York.
The episode also highlighted Special Olympics New York’s work beyond athletic competition, including efforts to promote inclusion through Unified Sports and other programs that bring athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together. The guests discussed a fundraising goal of approximately $160,000 for this year’s Brookhaven Polar Plunge to help continue providing these opportunities at no cost to participating athletes and their families.
There is no minimum donation required to participate in the Brookhaven Polar Plunge. Residents can register individually, join a team, create a team or make a donation in support of a participant or team.
The special episode of Supervisor On the Air will air on Brookhaven Cable Channel 18 and will be available through the Town of Brookhaven’s website and social media platforms.
For more information, to register or to donate, visit the Special Olympics New York Brookhaven Polar Plunge page here.