Chilly Cowboy auction and event to benefit Special Olympics Stillwater

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Media Contact: Gavin Lang | Associate Director of Athletics | 405-744-7714 | gavin.lang@okstate.edu

After raising more than $30,000 for Special Olympics Oklahoma last year, the Chilly Cowboy returns this week.

Led by former Oklahoma State softball standout Chelsea Alexander and First Cowboy Darren Shrum, the event aims to raise $50,000 for Oklahoma State University’s Special Olympics Unified College Program and the upcoming Special Olympics Summer Games in Stillwater.

• The website provides information about the event and a link for people to donate. It can be found at 
  https://www.classy.org/campaign/chilly-cowboy-2023/c458055.

• By texting OSU23 to 56651, people can make donations and be entered into a raffle to win a VIP on-field experience at a 2023 Cowboy football game.

• The live auction is set for Saturday’s OSU men’s basketball game vs. TCU at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Tipoff is at 1 p.m. The headline item is an autographed Detroit Lions Malcolm Rodriguez jersey.

• The polar plunge-style jump by prominent OSU figures is scheduled for noon on Monday, Feb. 6, at the OSU Student Union Plaza. Last year, President Kayse Shrum joined several prominent OSU Athletics figures including coaches Mike Gundy and Mike Boynton, Athletic Director Chad Weiberg and student-athletes in taking the plunge. A similar turnout is expected next week.

The 2022 version of the Chilly Cowboy far exceeded the original fundraising goal of $10,000 and Alexander said the hope is to do the same in 2023. 

“We were blown away by the response to last year’s event and want to continue the momentum,” she said. “The Special Olympics has such a positive impact on our community and carries so much personal meaning to me and my family. The hope is to raise money to help Special Olympics continue to provide opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities."