Amy Phillips takes the plunge

If there was one word to use to describe Amy Phillips, it would be “special.” Working as a special education teacher by day, Phillips will suit up on the weekend of Feb. 26 and 27 to take the ultimate plunge – into the icy February waters of Lake of the Ozarks. Not only once, but 24 times in 24 hours will see Phillips as her and 12 others, including her mother, take on the Super Plunge to help raise money for Special Olympics.

With a goal of $4,000, Phillips has taken creative efforts to reach it with raffles and bake sales, even making white chocolate polar bears to sell in her task to raise money for Special Olympics. She has already raised the first $1,000, and is working diligently to raise the rest. No stranger to volunteering, last year Phillips organized walkers for the Autism Alliance Awareness walk, and raised money by having her students help make crafts that were sold for the cause. She has also taken her talents outside of the country, volunteering for two weeks in 2007 in Guatemala, Mexico, for the Casa Bernabe Orphanage.

In her fourth year with the Super Plunge, Phillips said her 6-year-old daughter is counting down the years until she can join her mother and grandmother in the event. In the case of the Phillips family, volunteering must be in the blood.

Why do you feel it is important to volunteer?

I feel it is important to volunteer to make a difference. Volunteering makes me feel like I am doing something to make a difference without expecting anything in return. Just the feeling of knowing someone else will benefit from what I do is more of reward than any monetary payment I could receive.

What made you choose the Super Plunge?

I’m not real sure what drove me to do the Polar Bear Plunge the first time, but the reason I continue to is because of the joy I get from it. I enjoy working with my mom to get a team together, deciding what kind of costumes we will wear and making goodies to sell to raise money. I also enjoy knowing that what I am doing, as crazy of an event it is to some people, knowing that it is helping a group of individuals who truly appreciate what you are doing for them. There are always Special Olympic participants at this event and just to see their smiles is such a huge reward!

Why do you feel the Special Olympics is an important program?

I feel it is a great program that allows individuals a chance to participate in sports they might not have chance to participate in at school or within the community. Their mission statement puts it best though: It is a program that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with mental disabilities. It also gives them the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy. (Special Olympics Missouri - Mission Statement, http://www.somo.org)

Have you been doing anything to prepare yourself to jump in the cold waters of the lake 24 times?

Not really. Last weekend, some family members and I had a craft and bake sale at Wal-Mart in Jefferson City and stood outside in the cold for five hours. Other than that and my previous plunges I have not done much to prepare.