Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 7, 2025 200 People Plunge into Icy Waters of Constitution Beach on One of the Coldest Days of the Year for the 15th Annual JetBlue Shamrock Splash Donnie Todd of East Boston embraces the cold water at the 15th Annual JetBlue Shamrock Splash on Constitution Beach in East Boston on March 2. (Photo by Mike Murowchick) B OSTON – On March 2, one of the coldest days of the year, 200 brave souls plunged into the icy 32-degree waters of Constitution Beach in East Boston for the 15th Annual JetBlue Shamrock Splash. The water was cold, but the shore was colder and felt like a crisp ten degrees. The shivering crowd was a medley of people decked out in bathing suits and silly costumes like sharks and flamingoes who screamed and cheered as they ran into Boston Harbor for the big splash a little after noon. The JetBlue Shamrock Splash is a fundraiser hosted by the nonprofit Save the Harbor/Save the Bay for their Better Beaches Grant Program in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Better Beaches Grant Program awards grants to individuals and organizations who produce free events in the summer on the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. Rep. Adrian Madaro of East Boston and Co-Chair of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission, who was in attendance with his young son, Matteo, said, “As CoChair of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission, I want to thank all of the splashers for their dedication especially in this freezing cold, and the fundraisers for their efforts to support our beaches and our communities.” MBC Co-Chair Sen. Brendan Crighton said, “The grants awarded through the efforts of this fundraiser support programming that help to increase public beach use.” He continued, “Thanks to my colleagues on the MBC, this year we’ll be able to provide grants totaling over $300,000 for the Better Beaches Program” Chris Mancini, Save the Harbor’s executive director said about the Better Beaches Grant Program, “The goal of the grant program is to support free public events that encourage people to get out on some of the country’s cleanest urban beaches and enjoy our spectacular urban natural resources. This year’s grants will focus on breaking down barriers especially for people of color, people who don’t speak English as a first language, and ADA-accessibility.” The Splash also includes free roundtrip JetBlue tickets for the top two costume contest winners and the top two fundraisers. The contest winners were “Tiger King,” or Paula Kany of Gloucester and James Giltner of South Boston, who was dressed as one of the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant’s eggshaped digesters – very fitting for a Save the Harbor event. The costume contest judges were JetBlue’s Donnie Todd and Kennedy Elsey from “Karson and Kennedy” on Mix 104.1. Both Todd and Elsey have bragging rights as long-time Splash participants. Todd said, “This is my thirteenth year of plunging, so this is nothing new to me. It hypes GBL | SEE PAGE 17 Kennedy Elsey from “Karson and Kennedy” on Mix 104.1 judges the costume contest at the 15th Annual JetBlue Shamrock Splash on Constitution Beach in East Boston on March 2. (Photo by Mike Murowchick) Costume contest participants at the 15th Annual JetBlue Shamrock Splash on Constitution Beach in East Boston on March 2. (Photo by Katy Rogers) Splashers plunge into the icy waters at the 15th Annual JetBlue Shamrock Splash on Constitution Beach in East Boston on March 2. (Photo by Mike Murowchick)
17 Publizr Home