Photos provided by Joe Thompson and Jerry Mitchell
New Year’s Day 2023 saw the first light-hearted challenge to the Clubs of Kiawah Island.
At noon on Jan. 1, members of five clubs – the Kiawah Island Garden Club, the Kiawah Art Guild, The Kiawah Island Photography Club, the Kiawah Women’s Group and the Sandcastle Book Club met on the beach near The Sanctuary for Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Polar Bear Plunge.
The outside temperature was 59 degrees, and the water was six degrees colder, when the air horn announced with one blast that it was time to run into the Atlantic Ocean. A merciful mist kept observers from recording which participants dove headlong into the water and those who merely splashed around in the waves. A few of the brave accomplices kept their plunge to the calf/ankle area. However, a good time was had by all and a total of $135 was contributed into the sand bucket for Kiawah Cares Foundation. The mission of Kiawah Cares is to support our neighbors on Johns and Wadmalaw islands through facilitating impactful educational programs and humanitarian aid. It is intended to be a charitable resource for Kiawah Island property owners, providing impactful ways to contribute to the Sea Islands community through volunteerism and financial donations.
For more information on Kiawah Cares, visit kiawahcares.org. Kristin Thompson is president of the Kiawah Island Garden Club.
