MANASQUAN — The 15th LADICIN Ocean Plunge, an annual fundraising event of the LADICIN NETWORK that serves people with disabilities from zero to over 21 years within Monmouth and Ocean Counties, took place on Jan. 14. At the start of the day, more than 200 plungers and supporters flocked into the Leggett’s sand bar, which hosted the event in Manasquan.
“We have already raised $54,000 just a day before today,” said Patti Corlesimo, Executive Director of LADICIN, adding that the Plunge has raised over one million dollars since its initial installation in 2009.
Ladicin is a local non-profit organization that provides educational, therapeutic, social, residential and support services for over 3,5000 infants, children and adults with complex physical and developmental disabilities or delays in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. It serves some 3-500 families altogether within its 14 network locations.
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The idea of the Plunge first came to Joseph Russell, Jr., a Manasquan resident, 15 years ago when he approached Dir. Corlesimo. “It’s amazing 15 years ago I was still a kid. I’ve’ taken the first plunge and I’ve been taking every plunge every single year,” Russell related. “I just see new faces every year, and they just bring in new people every year. It’s a good thing to see people get involved, and I’m trying to bring in the next generation of people, which are my kids, to get involved.”
All proceeds from the event will go to the J. Michael Hartnett Memorial, a former board member of LADICIN. Upon his passing, his family led by his widow, Marian, organized the memorial which was dedicated to all of LADICIN’s clients. Liz Hartnett, their 54 yr. old daughter daughter who was born with cerebral palsy, has been one of LADACIN’s “persons served.
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