Batavia family takes a 'polar plunge' to raise money for Batavia United Way

BATAVIA – A Batavia family hosted a fundraiser in their backyard pool in early November to benefit the Batavia United Way.

The Wagenknecht family's "Wags Polar Plunge" raised more than $1,000 for the Batavia United Way. The Wagenknecht children, Maddyn, 11, Halas, 9, and Briggs, 6, organized the event where they collected donations to do cannonballs into the cold water.

According to a news release from the United Way, the family surprised the BUW at their monthly meeting and presented the board a check with a card signed by all of the contributors and shared a video montage of the plunge.

The release states that the donation comes in during the “Double Your Donation” campaign in which all community donations are being matched by local businesses, Ronald A. Murphy Dental, A Accurate Door Service, Inc., Baird & Warner/Diane Anderson Team, and an Anonymous family. BUW has set a goal to raise $20,000 and the Wags Polar Plunge, along with the $1,000 kickoff donation from Batavia Football, is helping them get closer to that goal, the release stated.

For more information about the Batavia United Way or to donate, visit us at https://bataviaunitedway.org or visit group's Facebook page.