Plunge for a cause: 10th annual Wrightsville Plunge held for New Year’s Day

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — More than 1,100 people braved the cold waters of Wrightsville Beach on Wednesday to ring in the new year at the 10th annual Wrightsville Plunge. 

All proceeds from the event go towards Communities in Schools of Cape Fear, a nonprofit that supports local students to stay in school. 

The tradition began in 2014 with just 100 plungers, and today, the nonprofit says it’s raised nearly 300 thousand dollars since the event’s inception. 

Communications Manager Kendall Englehart adds the event grows in numbers year after year. 

“It just means the world when we have our community behind us, that they want to bring in the year, they want to help the students in our region and we’re just so grateful for each and every person that shows up,” Englehart said. 

Some plungers describe the experience as exhilarating, while others just want to give back. 

“It’s my first year, and I decided to do it with family, and it’s going to a good cause so, figured why not,” one plunger said. 

“It’s kind of like you’re washing off the old and entering into the new,” another plunger added 

“We just moved to this area in 2024, so we thought what a great way to commemorate our first year here at the coast,” one plunger explained. 

Englehart says the Cape Fear Affiliate of Communities in Schools was able to serve more than 34,000 students in our area last year.