More than 4,500 people gathered at the ice-covered Lake Michigan on March 1 to raise money for the Special Olympics. Among those who braved the chilly weather were celebrities like Lady Gaga, her fiance Taylor Kinney, and the official Celebrity Guest of Honor, Vince Vaughn.

Lady Gaga, in contrast to her flamboyant, over-the-top stage persona, chose to keep her appearance at the fund-raiser low key, only confirming her participation to organizers shortly before the Chicago Polar Plunge event.

According to the president of the Special Olympics Chicago and its fundraising arm Special Children's Charities, Casey Hogan, Mama Monster's appearance, sans paparazzi, was authentic and exactly the kind of support that the Special Olympics needs.

"She's pure heart. She came out for the cause - low-key, no press. It doesn't get any better than that," Hogan said.

Gaga took the plunge into Lake Michigan's frozen waters, first atop her fiance's shoulders. The Chicago Fire star was scheduled to participate inthe event along with his co-stars Jon Seda, David Eigenberg, Randy Flagler and Brian Geraghty. Kinney had also taken the plunge for the Special Olympics in last year.

Clearly a supportive partner, Gaga earlier tweeted a photo of herself enroute to the event wearing a Chicago Fire hoodie.

 Before the Polar Plunge...

A photo posted by @ladygaga on Mar 1, 2015 at 8:26am PST


Right before she took the plunge, she revealed she was wearing a Chicago Fire Tee - and of course, that heart-shaped diamond engagement ring that Kinney gave her when he popped the question on Valentine's Day. According to the weather report that Sunday morning, the temperature in Chicago was only one degree below freezing and the waters themselves were only slightly warmer at 33 degrees Farenheit. The plunge into the freezing cold water was all worth it because this year's Polar Plunge managed to raise over $1.1 million dollars - the most the fundraising event has ever made. When she emerged from the Lake, Gaga tweeted a photo of herself with Kinney leading her by hand to be warmed up in thick white towels. All smiles through chattering teeth she wrote, "My weave froze!"

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