Friday, October 2, 2026
The Long Beach Polar Bears made a triumphant return to the waves on March 15. The annual event was scheduled to take place on Super Bowl Sunday, as it has been since 2000, but was postponed for the first time in its history due to nearly a foot of snowfall at the end of January worsened by freezing temperatures in the beginning of February.
Undeterred by weather that was still far more winter than spring, the ocean-jumpers braved water temperatures in the mid-30s, and land temperatures only slightly warmer. The plunge helped the Polar Bears in their continued drive to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The funds come from direct donations, contributions and the eye-catching branded merchandise associated with the Long Beach Polar Bears — most recognizable are T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts with their iconic bear logo.
“We’ve been printing the sweatshirts since 2001,” said Chris Bergoffen, a volunteer with the Polar Bears. “We went from raising a few thousand dollars to, now, over $500,000 per year. The merchandise is at least half, maybe a little more.”
The impetus for the Polar Bears’ Make-A-Wish connection is Long Beach’s local Bradley family whose son, Paulie, died of leukemia at age 4 in 1997. The Bradleys eventually approached Polar Bear co-founders Pete Meyers and Kevin McCarthy, who’d begun jumping into the frigid ocean as a birthday celebration in 1998, and the team soon coordinated to honor Paulie’s memory in the ocean he enjoyed. Meyers pointed out that the organization raised more than $11 million in its 26-year run and raised nearly $600,000 this year.
The Polar Bear Splash became a yearly opportunity for the community — residents and non-residents — to enjoy the water and support a charitable cause. While the Bradleys remain at the heart of the event, many families use the day to honor their own family or friends who’ve been affected by Make-A-Wish.
Kerry Ann Troy is the event coordinator for the City of Long Beach as well as the being the mother of Connor, the force behind Team Connor.
“Connor’s wish was to meet Kermit the Frog, so we went off to Disney,” Troy said. “It was an amazing trip. He was happier and healthier than he’d been in a long, long time. Unfortunately, right after the trip, he went into the hospital with pneumonia and he passed away.”
Groups often take the initiative to focus on their own fundraising efforts, heightening the impact and benefit of the day. “The first year, we raised, $8,000,” Troy said of the inspired efforts. “Last year, we raised $30,000. Hopefully we raise enough money to make a couple of wishes come true for other deserving children.”
Operating for more than two decades, the reputation of dipping into the cold Atlantic Ocean for a good cause has garnered attention far beyond Long Beach city limits, with repeat splashers and first-timers making appearances each year.
“We’re from Sayville,” said Edmund Walther, standing among his party of nine people gathered on the sand. “We started in 2004, me and my best friend. Now we bring our kids. We buy sweatshirts for us and for our kids. We spend $300 or $400 for an awesome cause.” Walther said one of his sons was away at college and unable to attend this year’s event, but it’s set to remain a family tradition. “My son was saying he’s going to bring his kids here. It’s something we believe in. It’s something we’ll do for as long as I can do it.”
For the uninitiated, the thought of running into 30-plus degree water can be daunting, but it’s not enough to dissuade determined beginners.
“I was a little nervous about an hour ago, but once you get in and you do it, it’s all worth it for a great cause,” said Max Suitovsky of Island Park after emerging from his first Polar Bear Splash experience. Maria Suitovsky, his wife and another first-timer, offered advice to prospective participants. “Keep on moving right before you jump in. Do some jumping jacks, do some stretches, and keep on moving when you get out,” she said, before including a final piece of motivation. “And you’ve got to scream as loud as you can when you jump in, for some power.”
City Council member George Ennis is a regular attendee who got into the water once again on the cold afternoon. “This is clearly one of the biggest days in Long Beach,” he said as he reflected on the Splash’s impact on the city. “It’s one of the most anticipated and one of the most fun. On a good day, if it’s in the 50s and sunny, you’ll have thousands of people. Thousands. It’s just a great community day.”
The Polar Bear Splash happens annually, but fundraising is endless with online merchandise sales and direct donations. The next public event will be the yearly announcement of the upcoming shirt color at Irish Day in October. More information about the Long Beach Polar Bears can be found at longbeachpolarbears.org.
