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Meet the People Behind The Plunge!
When you call, they answer. When you post a question on Facebook, they reply. They make sure your sweatshirt gets to you, and that you get in and out of the water safely. They line-up the acts that entertain you and the food that feeds you. They are the core organizers of the MSP Polar Bear Plunge, and we thought it might be nice for you to meet them.
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 Linda Ellingsworth
Marketing Coodinator
As Marketing Coordinator, Linda assists the department with the coordination of fundraising events – the largest one being the MSP Polar Bear Plunge. She works specifically with sponsorship marketing, and as a result has built relationships with corporate contacts statewide. Linda is also one of two primary liaisons to the Super Plunge team.
When she’s not agonizing over which bathing suits work best in cold water, this Towson University graduate lives in Towson and enjoys running, beaching, traveling, photography, music, and spending time with family and friends. Linda is the youngest of four, and has two sisters and one brother. As a huge Ravens fan, she also wanted to add to this, “Go Ravens!” |
 Betsy Jiron
Senior Director of Special Events
Betsy joined the Special Olympics Maryland family in June of 2004. As Senior Director of Special Events, her primary responsibility is making sure the MSP Polar Bear Plunge goes off without a hitch!
Betsy is a Maryland native from Montgomery County where her brother Brian participates in downhill skiing for Special Olympics. One of her favorite things is to watch her brother compete at the Annual Winter Games in Deep Creek.
Betsy received her BA from the University of Tennessee and before coming to SOMD, she worked at washingtonpost.com. She now lives in Annapolis and when not working, she enjoys spending time on the water with her Husband Dave and Yellow Lab, Barnacle.
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 Katie McDevitt
Director of Event and Sponsorship Services
Katie joined the SOMD staff in November 2004 as a Marketing Coordinator and during her tenure with the Marketing Department has worked her way up to her current position. As the primary contact with sponsors, Katie is actively involved in sponsor relations, the delivery of sponsor benefits and the all-important sponsorship renewal and solicitation. She greatly enjoys working with sponsors to ensure that their marketing goals are met.
Since joining the team, Katie has become a vital part of the MSP Plunge and the Super Plunge, ventured to Churchill, Manitoba – Polar Bear Capital of the World – for filming of the Polar Bear Diaries, and forged friendships with SOMD athletes, sponsor reps, and law enforcement officers from around the world.
Katie currently lives in Baltimore City with her dog, Trooper – a beagle/basset mix and the un-official mascot of the MSP Polar Bear Plunge.
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 Meghan Wilson
Marketing Coordinator
Meghan came to work for Special Olympics Maryland in December of 2008, where she immediately got an education in all things Plunge! As Marketing Coordinator, she assists primarily with the logistical side of the event, and also serves as the principal organizer of the Cool Schools Challenge.
This New Jersey native graduated from Towson University in 2007, and this early part of her career has been focused solely on the non-profit sector. And while the promotion and production of fundraising events is Meghan’s “day job”, she won’t hesitate to tell you that the real reason she loves her job is the athletes. When she isn’t spending her weekends at SOMD competitions or working, you can probably find her spending time back home in NJ, reading, biking and cheering on all the Philadelphia teams. She would like to add to this, “Go Eagles!”
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