Latest news with #CoolSchoolsPlunge
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh community freezes at ‘Polar Plunge' to support Special Olympics PA
WPXI's 11 Cares and its partners – 84 Lumber, Clearview Federal Credit Union, Duquesne Light Company, Edgar Snyder & Associates, and Highmark Wholecare – have teamed up with Special Olympics Pennsylvania for the Polar Plunge. Freezing for a reason: The annual Polar Plunge took place on Friday where hundreds of students from across Western Pennsylvania took the plunge for an amazing cause the Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Plunge after, plunge, after plunge hundreds of students braved the cold temps and frigid water as they participated in the annual Pittsburgh Polar Plunge. The event raises critical funds for Special Olympics Pennsylvania supporting vital free programming and an estimated 4,000 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities who make up the organization. 'We had over 40 schools take the plunge with wind chills in the single digits, and over 2300 students just an amazing turnout,' said Andrew Fee, the Vice President of the Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Three Rivers Region. Fee told Channel 11 News how this one day helps raise thousands towards their annual fundraising goal. 'Our polar plunge goal is $1.2 million this year to support our free programming, and we are at about 1.1 million,' Fee said. On Friday, students from Fox Chapel broke a fundraising record of $44,000 inching the organization that much closer to their goal. We spoke with both students and educators about why they felt compelled to jump. 'It's for a good cause trying to raise money for a good benefit and I just figured what better way to do it than to come out here in the freezing cold and try to have some fun,' said River Valley senior, Chase Suchai. And Heather King, an educator at Pittsburgh Public Schools said, 'We really believe in special education, and we really believe in inclusion and supporting everyone.' The corporate community also gets involved in some of the actions. We spoke with sponsors of the Polar Plunge who've plunged before and why they say they will do it again. 'They were dumping ice last year, but they didn't need to dump ice this year, said Erin Forrester with Clearview Federal Credit Union. 'It is such a wonder cause and despite the cold, the enthusiasm is almost contagious,' she said. Visit to sign up for the Cool Schools Plunge & Happy Hour Plunge on Feb. 21 and the General Plunge on Feb. 22 outside Acrisure Stadium. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tim Tooten, veteran TV reporter and church minister, dies
Tim Tooten, a reporter recalled as the 'heart and soul' of the WBAL-TV newsroom who also led a nondenominational church, died Saturday at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He was 66 and lived in Rosedale. His wife, Charleen Dawson Tooten, said her husband died of 'medical complications.' Born in Live Oak, Florida, he was the son of James Tooten Sr., a World War II veteran and farmer and his wife, Doris McKiver, a community activist. He was a graduate of Suwannee High School, where he ran track, played basketball and was a disc jockey. After studying at Tallahassee Community College, he earned a communications degree from Florida State University. He had broadcast jobs at WDVM-TV in Washington and at WSAZ-TV in Huntington, West Virginia, before coming to Baltimore and WMAR-TV. In 1988 he became a WBAL-TV news reporter. 'Tim was the heart and soul of the newsroom,' said WBAL news director Tim Tunison. 'He was loud in the best way possible. He was a mentor to us all. He was larger than life and we referred to him as our newsroom pastor.' Mr. Tooten covered schools throughout Maryland and announced school closings during weather events. After he started wearing hats with school colors and insignias, principals began mailing him their institutions' caps. He put on many during morning newscasts. 'Kids from all over Baltimore would tune in and wait for their school to be called,' said Mr. Tunison. He also covered school-related events, such as the Cool Schools Plunge, a benefit for Special Olympics Maryland. In 2023, Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises spoke at Mr. Tooten's retirement celebration. He earned an Emmy Award for his documentary shot in Liberia, West Africa, called 'Africa's Maryland.' Mr. Tooten was later an affiliate faculty member and taught broadcast journalism at Loyola University Maryland. In 2006 he began an evangelistic ministry. He founded Harvest Christian Ministries, a nondenominational church in Perry Hall. Mr. Tooten was a Sunday afternoon patron at the Double T Diner in White Marsh, where he walked the dining room and greeted his many friends and congregants. He became a member of the Sharon Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. Alfred C.D. Vaughn, where he was also ordained into the gospel ministry. He received a master's degree in theology from Saint Mary's Ecumenical Institute and a doctorate of divinity from Virginia University of Lynchburg. He wrote, 'Leading by Example: A Parental Guide to Teaching and Modeling Christian Faith at Home,' and a collection of daily devotionals, 'Seeds of Encouragement.' He was a board member of the Maryland Bible Society. A life celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Central Christian Assembly of God Church, 7411 Rossville Blvd. Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Charleen Dawson Tooten; two daughters, Fallon Cuthrell, of Westfield, Indiana, and Taren Tooten, of Baltimore; a son, Timothy Tooten Jr., of Baltimore; a godson, Charles Cuthrell, of Baltimore; two sisters, Evelyn Williams, of Orlando, Florida, and Pauline Tooten, of Live Oak, Florida; a brother, James Tooten, of Live Oak; and four grandchildren. Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at and 410-332-6570.
