14,500 plunge into Chesapeake Bay ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Organizers of the 16th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Maryland said 14,500 people jumped into the Chesapeake Bay and raised $2.5 million for charity. Kelley Schniedwind, a spokeswoman for Special Olympics Maryland, which benefits from the event, said the number of people jumping into the frigid waters Sunday at Sandy Point State Park was a record for the 16-year-old tradition, The Baltimore Sun reported Monday. The temperatures (in the 50s) probably had a lot to do with it. I'm sure a few people woke up this morning, looked out the window and said, 'Hey, let's go out to the park,'" Schniedwind said.