Six years ago, the Voorhees High School Unified program attended The Special Olympics New Jersey Dash & Splash in Asbury Park for the first time. It has quickly turned into a beloved annual tradition for our students and staff members to bring recognition to our small town program with big hopes for the future Unified generation.
Over the weekend, almost 50 members of the Unified program at Voorhees High School participated in this year’s Dash & Splash by running a 5k and/or jumping into the freezing ocean. Members of the Unified Club were tasked with fundraising for Special Olympics, as well as their own program at Voorhees High School. If students reach a certain fundraising goal, they can choose a costume for the Principal to wear while running into the ocean! Unified club members used social media and word of mouth to fundraise a set goal of $5000.00. The week before the splash, Voorhees’ team, The Unified Plungers, reached their fundraising goal (and then some) and revealed to Principal Ron Peterson his costume for this year: Buddy the Elf. Their excitement and commitment to this fundraiser earned the team a spot on Live TV! The team was interviewed by John Elliot on the NY CBS Morning News!
For the second year in a row, Voorhees Unified has come in first place for raising money for Special Olympics New Jersey, being the top fundraiser in the state, raising almost $12,820! They were also winners of Highest Team Participation in the state with almost 50 splashers running into the ocean on Saturday morning. Two of Voorhees’ own, Keith “KJ” Steidle Jr. and Annie Tramutola were recognized for raising the most funds in the state! Once again, Voorhees Unified was proud to participate in another plunge and embody the message that they truly were “freezing for a reason”. What reason? Continuing to exemplify what it means to Live Unified.
