Rahm Emanuel And Jimmy Fallon Do 2014 Chicago Polar Plunge

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 2, 2014 8:00PM

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon joined scores of others in diving into an ice-cold Lake Michigan Sunday morning as part of the 2014 Chicago Polar Plunge. The water temperature at the time of the event was a toasty 32 degrees.

Emanuel promised to participate in the Plunge last July if children across Chicago participating in the Chicago Public Library's "Rahm's Readers" read 2 million books. The children in the program read an estimated 2.1 million books to hold Emanuel to his word—a rare thing in his mayoralty.

The mayor then encouraged Fallon to participate after Fallon invited Emanuel on the Tonight Show. Emanuel said he would if Fallon would "toughen up" and do the Plunge.

Calling himself "Swimmy Fallon," Fallon replied "I'm in. Lake Michigan will have a New York fish this weekend."

Fallon took the Plunge in a suit and tie while Emanuel waded in to a section of North Avenue Beach cleared for the event in a t-shirt, shorts and shoes. Both looked as though they wanted to get to a warm space immediately after their respective dunks.

The participation of Emanuel and Fallon in this year's Plunge spurred a record number of participants. Over 3,000 people decided to take the Plunge which raised over $1 million for Special Olympics Chicago.