NAHANT — The season of giving isn’t quite over yet.
As they have for the last 13 years, the Sonia and the Capano families will be hosting their annual Freezin’ for a Reason Polar Plunge fundraiser at Nahant’s Short Beach Wednesday. This year’s funds will go to benefit the educational nonprofit Camp Rotary.
George Sonia, a Lynn native and event co-organizer, says what initially began as a fun and different way to ring in the new year eventually morphed into something much more.
“Maybe five years ago, we had the idea to turn it over into a fundraiser for different charities every year,” Sonia said.
Last January, proceeds went to a scholarship fund in memory of family friend Kelly Martin. Sonia says the event was able to raise $22,000 for the scholarship through its t-shirt sales and from prizes raffled off during the plunge’s after-party at Rolly’s Tavern in Lynn.
It was through these prior fundraising efforts that the two families became familiar with Camp Rotary.
“Through all these different projects, through all these different fundraisers, I met so many people who went to camp rotary, and they were all so happy to give back to it,” Sonia said.
In a press release for the event, camp director Rich Cowell described Camp Rotary — which is one of the longest-running Rotary Club service projects in the world — as “an incredibly special place” for kids.
“It’s a unique place where campers sleep in modern cabins, eat in a brand-new, modern dining hall … yet experience the programs, camaraderie, and values of a traditional American overnight camp,” he said. “We commit to continuing to kindle the fires of friendship in a safe, fun, outdoor environment that develops a camper’s independence and confidence.”
For Sonia, Freezin for a Reason is made all the more special by the community members who take time out of their schedules and come out in waves to support each year’s cause.
“That’s the whole beauty of what we do. It’s a fun day. We all do the same things every day, but this is definitely something different,” he said.
“We probably have 200, 300 people down there. It’s a great way to start the year.”
