Long Beach Polar Bears to celebrate 13th anniversary

“It’s a fantastic Long Beach tradition, and one of the things that defines the community is traditions and having really wonderful things that make us unique,” said City Manager Jack Schnirman of the annual Long Beach Polar Bears Super Bowl Splash.

“Our beach and boardwalk make us unique,” Schnirman said. “This is something that brings people together.”

Schnirman will be one of thousands who take to the beach at Riverside Boulevard on Feb. 5 to raise money for the 13th annual Splash, which will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“It’s the first time I’m doing this,” said Schnirman, who, after he was sworn in on Jan. 3, said that he was looking forward to moving to Long Beach and becoming an active member of the community. “It’s always been on my bucket list. I’m going to do it and just embrace the experience.”

The event — which begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Riverside Boulevard beach — honors Paulie Bradley of Island Park, who died of cancer at age 4 in 1997. Since its inception, the Polar Bear Splash has raised more than $2 million and helped to make hundreds of wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Last year, approximately 5,000 people braved the icy-cold water and raised more than $550,000.

Pete Meyers, Kevin McCarthy and Michael Bradley founded the Long Beach Polar Bear Club in 1998, when Meyers and McCarthy plunged into the Atlantic Ocean for a swim just before the Super Bowl in honor of McCarthy’s 40th birthday.

The following year, a dozen friends joined them, including Island Park resident Mike Bradley. At the time, Bradley and many others were mourning the loss of his 4-year-old son Paulie. Bradley and his wife, Patti, were looking to do something in Paulie’s memory and 12-years-ago, Meyers and McCarthy turned the swim into a Make-A-Wish fundraiser. Patti Bradley died in December 2009, and she has been honored as well in the Splashes since then.

Organizers said that this year, they’re hoping to top last year’s total in funds raised, and said they believe there will be an even larger turnout. “I think this year with the New York Giants and the Super Bowl, it will top the crowd from last year,” Meyers said. “If we match what we did last year, the Polar Bears will have raised $3 million in funds.”