Plunging into the Humboldt Bay

By Iridian Casarez

Participants line up to plunge into the icy cold waters of the Humboldt Bay for the children’s Discovery Museum.

The Discovery Museum in Eureka held its 16th annual Perilous Plunge fundraiser Saturday February 11.

The Perilous Plunge is a fundraiser for the Discovery Museum where people dress up in costumes to jump into the Humboldt bay to raise money. The Discovery Museum is a science museum for kids. It is the only children’s museum in the area according to Kala Minkley the executive director of the Discovery Museum.

The Perilous Plunge is the only big fundraiser the museum throws and covers 20 percent of their yearly budget said Minkley. Plungers needed to raise at least $150 to jump into the bay.

Plunger Brenda Urueta was dressed as Prince. This was Urueta’s first time plunging.  She was with the Humboldt Area Foundation group that was plunging into the bay dressed as “the fallen stars of 2016”. The Humboldt Area Foundation is a non-profit community foundation that gives grants, scholarships and resource library to non-profit organizations.

“I am doing the plunge because I decided I wanted to do something adventurous and at the same time help advance the mission of the Discovery Museum,” Ureta said. 

Michele Stephens works for the Department of Health and Human Services and plunged into the bay with a group of her co-workers. The Department of Health and Human Services’ costume theme was beach inspired. This was Stephen’s second time plunging into the bay for the Discovery Museum fundraiser.

“It’s a great fundraiser for the Discovery Museum and the museum is a great part of the community,” Stephens said. “The water was super super cold.”

Jamie Corsetti from Corsetti Accounting Corporation raised over $2,000. This was Corsetti’s 10th year jumping into the Humboldt Bay for the Perilous Plunge fundraiser. “I do it to have fun,” Corsetti said. “I plunge to support the community and the Discovery Museum.