TIFTON — For six years running, the Polar Bear Plunge has offered a way to help local non-profits while celebrating the new year.

Darien Peavy, director of the Tiftarea YMCA, said they started doing the plunge in 2013.

“It’s a blessing,” he said. “It’s one of those things where we can reach out and help other local non profit organizations here.”

The participants are volunteers who get to select their favorite non-profit and raise money in support.

The top fundraiser gets 100 percent of their raised funds donated to their chosen non-profit. Everyone else gets 50 percent donated to their non-profit and 50 percent goes back to the YMCA.

The one caveat is that fundraisers have to slide down into icy water on Jan. 1 at 11 a.m.

“It’s a great way to start the year,” he said. “You start January 1 fresh, knowing that you’re sliding down to help these local non-profits. These are all local. Everything is local to the Tiftarea community.”

Peavy said that last year they raised more than $11,000.

“Julie Smith, our mayor, set a record last year,” he said. “She raised $3,800. That was by far the biggest that we’ve ever had.”

Peavy said that the funds given to the YMCA go towards the swimming pool and outreach programs such as swimming lessons for second graders at Annie Belle Clark.

There are multiple ways to donate towards a particular non-profit.

The Tiftarea YMCA website has a link to the donation page and people can go to the YMCA, located at 1657 Carpenter Road and donate in person.

Jana Barfield is sponsoring Coastal Plains CASA, Mike Beeman is sponsoring Ruth’s Cottage, Renata Elad is sponsoring the Humane Society, Staci Griffin is sponsoring the Tift County Commission on Children and Youth, TJ Mauldin is sponsoring Young Life, Ted McElroy is sponsoring Called to Care, Darian Peavy is sponsoring Family Promise, Vicki Taft is sponsoring Hospice of Tiftarea, Bret Wagenhorst is sponsoring Meals on Wheels, Wingate Whitley is sponsoring The Patticake House and Jennifer Woodall is sponsoring the Pregnancy Care Center.