Yanfeng Quality & Finance Teams participate in Special Olympics of Michigan Polar Plunge to raise money for athletes.

This March, members of our Quality and Finance Team did cannonballs for a good cause. The YF Frozen Popsicles Team - Nathan Roberts, Plant Quality Manager, Frenchtown; Nick Dreyer, Plant Financial Analyst, Frenchtown; and Steven Gorno, Plant Quality Manager, Southview Tech – participated in a Polar Plunge fundraiser for Michigan Special Olympics. The Polar Plunge fundraiser invites teams to jump into freezing cold water in freezing cold weather, all to raise money for charity. These events are the biggest annual fundraisers for the Special Olympics of Michigan. All funds raised help to provide year-round training and services to the over 22,000 athletes across the state.

Other members of the Yanfeng team joined the fun by donating to the team and even creating milestones for the campaign. Some of which had some chilly consequences.

“Nathan, if you can figure out how to get $300 out of the team for a ‘Gorno Plunge,’ I will drive to Monroe and jump in the water,” promised Steven Gorno to Nathan Roberts, the fundraiser’s lead. “If you can get $500 raised, I will come dressed in a costume!”

It didn’t take long for the team to get to work and for them to get more creative with the milestones.

“Steven, if we get to $1,000, I get to pick out your costume and I’ll deliver it to your doorstep. What do you say?” said Lorenzo Panzica, Advanced Quality Director.

“If we get to $1,000, I will wear whatever you send me,” said Steven. Little did he know how motivating that offer would be to his regional team.

Shortly after committing to the $1,000 milestone, the team made it happen. Only two days after initially agreeing, Steven and the rest of the Quality team watched as the total had surpassed $760 by 10:00 AM. By 3:00 PM that same day, it had passed $1,400. The goal had been smashed.

“Steve, your costume is in the mail! No disclosure of what it is until the day of the event,” said Lorenzo.

That sunny March afternoon may have been beautiful, but it was cold. The temperature of the air was well below 50°F (10°C) with winds up to 45 mph (72 kph). Other YF team members joined the crowds to watch their teammates “cowabunga” into the frigid water. The YF Popsicles Team had each donned a costume for their dive. Nathan was the beloved Frozen snowman, Olaf (a very appropriate costume for a polar plunge). Nick was a University of Michigan fan, decked out in the college’s colors and gear. And Steven Gorno was dressed as The King, Elvis Presley, complete with sunglasses and a wig.

On the day of the event, the YF Frozen Popsicles raised $1,503 for the Special Olympics of Michigan, and the event raised a total amount of $18,000. The “icing” on the cake? There was even a prize given to Steven Gorno - winner of the Best Costume.

Nathan, Nick, and Steven, thanks for supporting an incredible organization. If you’re interested in learning more about the Special Olympics of Michigan and other polar plunges in your area, visit https://www.somi.org/polarplunge.