Cobleskill, NY – The SUNY Cobleskill Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) proudly supported the 2026 Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump, continuing the department's commitment to community engagement and service.
The Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a difference for local children, families, and organizations with special needs and unique circumstances. For more than 25 years, the organization has distributed 100 percent of its proceeds directly to recipients through fundraising efforts that include raffles, auctions, and individual donations.
The impact continues to grow each year. The event raised $182,000 in 2024, $186,000 in 2025, and reached a record high $203,000 in 2026.
This year, SUNY Cobleskill SAAC mobilized all Fighting Tiger athletic teams to contribute, with funds raised equally distributed among the 2026 recipients. The initiative reflects SAAC's broader mission of leadership, service, and representing Cobleskill Athletics beyond competition. This year, SAAC helped raise $900 for the Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump.
Cobleskill's own Mike Jorgensen played a key role in coordinating communication with event organizers and represented the department as its official jumper. A 20-year member of Fighting Tigers Athletics, Jorgensen has long been active in supporting the local special needs community. His involvement is also personal, as his fifteen-year-old son, Aran, has Prader Willi Syndrome. Through that experience, he serves as a resource for families navigating available programs and services in Schoharie County and the Cobleskill-Richmondville School District.
"Resources for the challenges our children face are not always easily obtainable, and have cost associated that sometimes insurance just doesn't cover," Jorgensen said. "Events like the Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump help children, families, and organizations to get those resources, meet those needs, and be comforted that the money is there."
Jorgensen also emphasized the importance of continued awareness and involvement.
"I have always been an advocate of special needs, growing up with family and friends who were part of the special needs community," he said. "In raising a son who has a genetic disorder, I feel both responsibility and pride in participating in programs and events that further grow awareness, education, and resources for our community. The Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump benefits local children, families, and organizations, and I am proud to be a part of it."
SAAC President Madelynn Orosz, a junior softball captain, echoed the significance of the initiative for the department's student-athletes.
"We really wanted to focus on giving back to the local community," Orosz said. "In the fall, we organize a food and clothing drive that supports our campus community. For the spring semester, we wanted to expand our impact and support families in the surrounding counties. Polar plunges are a great way to raise funds for meaningful causes, and we hope to continue building this partnership in the years ahead."
Through leadership and service initiatives like the Polar Bear Jump, SUNY Cobleskill SAAC continues to strengthen the connection between Fighting Tiger Athletics and the communities it represents.
Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump Website
