U.S. Venture Open to host Jack Nicklaus
Annual charity event on Aug. 8, 2012; proceeds go to Fund for Basic Needs
The athlete who was named “Golfer of the Century” will be the featured guest at this year’s U.S. Venture Open—Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus has received every major sports award, but is also recognized for his philanthropic work and leadership within the golf industry. Last year, the U.S. Venture Open raised $1.785 million from the one-day golf outing, funds earmarked for the U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs. Money raised in the 26-year history of the event makes it one of the nation’s largest charitable golf outings.
Last year, international cyclist Lance Armstrong and LPGA champion Nancy Lopez visited the event; this year Nicklaus and Nancy Lopez will attend. Lopez will return for a welcome event on Tuesday, August 7 and Nicklaus will meet with VIPs and join her for a dinner and auction following the golf outing on Wednesday evening, August 8. Both golfers were selected to join the event for much more than their golf accomplishments.
“Both Jack Nicklaus and Nancy Lopez are committed to helping others,” said U.S. Venture Open organizer Sarah Schmidt. “Their charitable work is significant and in line with the mission of the U.S. Venture Open.” Schmidt credits a long-standing relationship with Lopez for getting Nicklaus to the Open—one of the few visits he has made to Northeast Wisconsin throughout his career.
Schmidt says credit goes to the supporters of the Open. “Mr. Nicklaus was thrilled to learn of the tremendous amount of community support we have for fighting poverty here in Northeast Wisconsin. The broad-based support factored into his decision to attend.”
The U.S. Venture Open, held on Wednesday, August 8, is Northeast Wisconsin’s single largest one-day charitable event dedicated to fighting poverty. Funds generated through event sponsorships and donations go to the U.S. Venture Open Fund for Basic Needs, a fund established within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Grants are made to non-profit organizations in the communities of the Fox Valley, Green Bay and Oshkosh.
The U.S. Venture Open Fund for Basic Needs has paved the way for collaboration between funders and non-profit organizations passionate about fighting poverty in Northeast Wisconsin. The Basic Needs Giving Partnership was launched in 2007 when the J. J. Keller Foundation decided to match the grantmaking budget of the U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs. Since that time, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership granted more than $3 million to non-profits getting to the root causes of poverty. At the 2011 event, the J. J. Keller Foundation announced their intent to commit another $2.4 million in matching funds through 2014. This will add $800,000 to the annual grantmaking budget of the Basic Needs Giving Partnership for the next three years.
In 2011, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership made more than $1 million in grants to dozens of charitable organizations, impacting more than tens of thousands of people in need within Northeast Wisconsin. Funding is granted to organizations that innovatively address the basic needs of children, families, seniors and those with chronic health issues.
This year is the 27th anniversary of the charitable event started by Bill Schmidt, Chairman Emeritus of U.S. Venture, Inc.. The event started in 1986 with 100 golfers and has grown to more than 800 participants representing more than 300 corporate, family and foundation partners from all over the United States.
As the host of the U.S. Venture Open, U.S. Venture, Inc. pays for all the expenses of the event. This means that every dollar contributed by sponsors and participants goes directly to the Community Foundations for the Fox Valley, Green Bay and Oshkosh regions. Funds are then managed by advisory committees at each of the Community Foundations, with approximately 10 percent of the fund balance being given to non-profit organizations in grants annually.
For more information, visit www.usventure.com.