Eastern Will County’s favorite Special Olympian was honored last week by the Monee Village Board for his Polar Plunge fundraising.
Nick Lorenz was named Top Gun of the Plunge’s Region 9 event in Manteno.
Nick and his parents, Pam and Scott Lorenz, were longtime residents of Peotone and now live in New Lenox.
Monee Mayor Therese Bogs and Police Chief Scott Koerner presented a plaque recognizing Nick’s accomplishment.
“Every year since 2013, the Village of Monee Police Department has participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge for Special Olympics,” Bogs said during the village board meeting.
“In the beginning a few officers got together and raised a few hundred dollars for a great cause. Word spread and the donations grew as did the number of officers, family members and supporters from the Department of Public Works, the village board and even a couple of mayors became active participants.
“But in all those years, and all those 33-degree swim parties, MPD never came close to raising the most money of any first responder team at the Lake Manteno Polar Plunge.
“In 2025, we made a key addition to Team Monee. Special Olympian Nick Lorenz decided to join us for the Plunge.
“The results speak for themselves. MPD is the Top Gun of Region 9 Polar Plunge fundraisers for first responders.
“Nick was our number one fundraiser bringing in $1,875.00. Without Nick, we would have been just another team.
“Nick, thank you for your dedication, hard work and great leadership,” the mayor added.
“You are Team Monee’s Top Gun!”
Nick said after the presentation that he “enjoyed being part of the Monee police department team”, and that he was “very honored to receive the award.”
His parents noted that Nick has yet another accomplishment to add to his resume.
“Scott and I are proud of Nick’s commitment to taking his new position as athlete liaison for LETR seriously,” his mother said on Thursday.
“Not only does he do a good job helping out with fundraising, but he has so much fun doing it.”
Police Chief Scott Koerner said, “Nick has always been a close friend to all of us here at the PD. He attends almost all of our fundraisers and brings smiles to everyone who crosses his path. We feel fortunate and honored to have a friend like Nick on our Team!! He brings out the best in all of us!”
Congratulations Nick! What a great accomplishment for your town! Keep up your good work!
My name is Judi Austell and I’ve known nick Lorenze since he was five years old. He is the most amazing young man that I’ve ever met in my life, warm, loving, caring. His parents have done a beautiful job of bringing him up and making him so involved in the community and loving people if he gets your name one day he’ll meet you six months later And see you for the second time and will remember who you are. He’s awesome thank you to the money, Village board for representing such a wonderful young man and also kudos to the board for the way they operate their village board meetings. It was the most beautiful site I’ve ever experienced members of the board, got up and shook hands with all the people in the audience in the room and graciously thanked them for coming And they were not all there just for the presentation. They were there for other reasons that was the warmest board meeting I’ve ever been to in my life of being in business in 50 years thank you Pam and Scott for sharing such a beautiful boy who has become a fine young man now