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Appleton, Wis. — June 6, 2016 — U.S. Venture, Inc. announces that, to mark the 50^th anniversary of Super Bowl I, Green Bay Packers greats Paul Hornung, Willie Davis, and Jerry Kramer will be the guests of honor at the 2016 U.S. Venture Open. The Hall of Fame players will be joined by contemporary Packers great, Donald Driver, who will interview the legends at the dinner. The 2016 U.S. Venture Open will be held on Wednesday, August 10 and funds raised from the annual event help fight poverty in Northeast Wisconsin.

All three players from Super Bowl I are members of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, both Hornung and Davis are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Driver appeared as the guest of honor at the 2013 U.S. Venture Open and is back by popular demand.

“Having these football greats appear at one event and on one stage is historic,” said Greg Vandenberg, director of giving and community engagement for U.S. Venture. “They are living legends and are a tremendous way to kick off the next 30 years of the Open.”

U.S. Venture Open

The U.S. Venture Open is Northeast Wisconsin’s single largest one-day charitable event dedicated to fighting poverty. It’s held at several regional golf courses: Oneida Golf and Country Club, Green Bay; North Shore Golf Club, Menasha; Mid Vallee Golf Course, De Pere; Fox Valley Golf Club, Kaukauna; Butte des Morts Country Club, Appleton; Wander Springs Golf Course, Greenleaf. Paul Hornung, Willie Davis, Jerry Kramer, and Donald Driver are scheduled to appear and speak at a large dinner reception for all registered guests, held at Van Abel’s of Hollandtown.

U.S. Venture underwrites all costs of the event and has done so since the inception. John Schmidt, President of U.S. Venture, Inc., says the company’s investment is supported by the volunteer efforts. “We thank our team members and business partners who donate their time to support the Open and together, we ensure that all of the funds raised go directly to ending poverty in Northeast Wisconsin,” Schmidt said.

Funds from the event are held within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, with grants made to collaborating non-profit organizations in Northeast Wisconsin. Over 1,100 participants representing more than 500 partners golf at regional golf courses to raise money for programs that help to fight the root causes of poverty. To become a partner, visit www.USVentureOpen.com. Follow the event on Facebook, Twitter, or visit the U.S. Venture Open website.

Basic Needs Giving Partnership

In 2016, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership distributed more than $3 million in grants to programs implemented by over 100 charitable organizations. Proceeds from the U.S. Venture Open pave the way for collaboration between funders and non-profit organizations who are passionate about addressing the root causes of poverty in Northeast Wisconsin. The Basic Needs Giving Partnership was launched in 2007 when the J. J. Keller Foundation offered to match the grant-making budget of the U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs. The J. J. Keller Foundation will again match up to $800,000 for grants distributed and will be joined for the 2016 granting cycle by lead partners ThedaCare, Oshkosh Corporation and The Rhoades Foundation. In the 30-year history of the event more than $30 million has been raised and $16.9 million granted.

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