GCI employees make a splash to raise $20,000 for Special Olympics Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – GCI continued its long-running support of the annual Special Olympics Alaska Polar Plunge. Hundreds of enthusiastic divers, including six GCI employees, took the icy plunge into Anchorage’s Goose Lake as part of Special Olympics Alaska’s signature event.
The Polar Plunge is Special Olympic Alaska’s biggest fundraising events and supports local athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Saturday marked the event’s 14th year, which returned to its traditional large-scale format after two years of virtual and hybrid events due to COVID-19.
“We were excited to be completely back in-person,” said Special Olympics Alaska President & CEO Sue Perles. “Spectators weren’t allowed last year, so it was fun to have a more party-like atmosphere this time around.”
GCI is a long-time sponsor of the Polar Plunge, where participants take an icy leap into Anchorage’s Goose Lake. GCI employees volunteer each year to take the plunge and raise funds for Special Olympics Alaska.
“It’s important to us an Alaska born-and-raised company that we support our neighbors and communities, and our continued partnership with Special Olympic Alaska allows us to do that,” said Senior Manager of Contributions and Events Tiffany Vassar. “We strive to have as many employees as possible represent GCI at the plunge, because it’s right at the heart of GCI’s mission statement: we want to be good neighbors and a positive part of our communities.”
Every dollar raised during the event stays in Alaska and supports Special Olympics Alaska athletes.
“All of our events are completely free for our athletes. That’s because of the generosity from supporters like GCI,” said Perles. “They are instrumental in making the Polar Plunge a huge success and we’re so thrilled to partner with them again this year as our presenting sponsor, which will help enable some athletes training for a future world or USA Games competition. They know that GCI will be there to support them and help them excel.”
Six GCI employees took part in the event, including long-time plunger Chris McGinty, GCI account manager.
“The whole event was like a giant party. It was so much fun. You jump in, you’re in for a few seconds, you get a little rush – the adrenaline hits, then off to the hot tubs you go,” said McGinty. “I never did the plunge until I started working for GCI, but once I started participating, I’ve tried to do more each year.”
Since 2013, GCI employees have raised over $100,000 for Special Olympics Alaska, and employees throughout Alaska – from Kotzebue to Ketchikan – were encouraged to participate virtually.
About GCI
Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 40 years and recently launched true standards-based 5G NR service in Anchorage, now the nation’s northernmost 5G service area. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at http://www.libertybroadband.com.