Providence Rugby Club Takes an Icy Plunge to Help Hasbro Kids
Another year, another polar plunge for the books and 2022 was all about giving back for one Rhode Island Sports Club.
On January 1, just past noon, myself and the rest of the Providence Rugby Football Club teamed up with the Friends of Jack Foundation for an icy dip down at Horseneck Beach in Westport to support Hasbro Children's Hospital.
The assignment was simple: raise money for the kids, jump into the Atlantic Ocean and call it a day. It's safe to say that it was an accomplished mission to kick off the new year.
Providence Rugby's goal was to reach at least $500 and whatever the final count was, the Friends of Jack Foundation was going to match it. The final tally came in right at $500 and as promised, the match was made for a $1,000 check written out and signed over to Hasbro Children's Hospital.
This is an annual event that the Providence sports team has put together, but the first year of giving back. Westport resident Art Santini was inspired by recent events the Friends of Jack Foundation put on to help local children here on the SouthCoast and in Rhode Island that he suggested that the team raised money. Every last penny was donated to the kids and it was a fun day all around at a warm 50 degrees by the shoreline.
The water temperature was undetermined, but had a highly underwhelming chill factor as opposed to recent years. A signed rugby ball was also presented to the Friends of Jack to be passed down to and showcased at the children's hospital with "Plunge for Hasbro 2022" marked on it. Both parties plan on continuing this tradition for next year and years to come.