Kidd's Krue turns Polar Plunge Chicago into ‘best day of the year'

Chicago Tribune

27-02-2025

Kidd Carrig plans on going all-in this year. Literally.
The 16-year-old Agricultural Sciences School student who has Down syndrome will once again participate in the Polar Plunge Chicago event Sunday at North Avenue Beach.
'Kidd said he is going all the way in this year,' his mother, Ebony Carig said. 'So, we'll see what happens. He usually goes in about waist deep.'
Well, no matter if he dips a toe in the freezing Lake Michigan water or jumps right in and gets everything wet, the day should be a success.
Carig is the 'Kidd' behind 'Kidd's Krue,' a team that started plunging and raising money for Special Olympics in 2010.
Ebony Carrig said the team started with 12 plungers and raised $5,000 back then. Last year, it had 125 plungers, raising $105,000. At midweek, more than 90 people signed up to be a part of Kidd's Krue.
In all, she estimated Kidd's Krue has raised $1 million over the years.
'Kidd has built a following in the community and people want to join the team – it's just been beautiful,' she said.
It's not just a community thing.
Through her previous jobs as a flight attendant and singer in Nashville, Ebony has pooled a network of friends who come from Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Longtime acquaintance Steve Schutz is coming in from Texas as a 'third vacation' to take part in the plunge. He's been doing it for 10 years.
'We have a good crowd and last year I bought eight of my friends from Texas who wanted to see what it's all about,' Schultz said. 'I keep coming back because the Carrigs are a great family and Kidd is a great kid and Special Olympics is a great cause.'
He said he vacations in the Caribbean, Las Vegas and, during the Polar Plunge, Chicago.
Schultz works for ZUP Boards based in the Virgin Islands. The company caters to water sports enthusiasts and also has products for special needs athletes. The company was featured on season 9 on Shark Tank, however none of the sharks made an offer.
The Chicago version of the Polar Plunge will be shark-free and has earned some attention from well outside the city. This is the 25th year of the plunge and celebrities including Lady Gaga, Jimmy Fallon, Vince Vaughn, Dax Shepard, Al Roker, Craig Melvin and cast members of 'Chicago Fire,' 'Chicago PD' and 'Chicago Med' have jumped in the cold water for Special Olympics.
Roughly 5,000 people participate each year.
Funds from the plunge help to pay for transportation to competitions, lunches and sports equipment.
Online registration is at specialchildrenscharities.org and walk-up registration will take place at 8 a.m. Sunday.
About Kidd Carrig's name…
That was the brainchild of his father, Tim.
'My husband wanted that name since he was 13,' Ebony said. 'He thought it sounded like a cool baseball player's name.'
Kidd has played baseball, but he can't get enough of competition.
He is involved in gymnastics, showshoeing, bowling, power lifting, basketball, softball and soccer.
'He does it all,' Ebony said. 'We're busy. We have something every day.'
The family also features siblings Olivia and Vaughn, who are 13-year-old twins.
The Polar Plunge day is Ebony's favorite. After the plunge part, the large team used to gather at Lawlor's Bar in Mount Greenwood. In the past, some of the streets were blocked off and tents were used to accommodate Kidd's Krue.
The bar changed locations, and the Krue will be partying indoors there.
'This is the best day of the year and everyone says that,' Ebony said. 'Anyone who has ever done it comes back the next year to do it again.'
It's a reunion for people from various walks of life helping the cause. Ebony said a special moment is when plungers are ready to hit the lake, Special Olympians are there to shout encouragement.
'Everybody gets together, and I always say you smile the whole day,' Ebony said. 'You cannot stop smiling. And there is lots of crying too, because it's super powerful to be running into that water.'