Media Contact
Olympian Michael Phelps to Keynote 2018 U.S. Venture Open
07-Mar-2018
Media Contact
Annual charity event raises
funds to end poverty
(Appleton, WI) February 25, 2018 — U.S. Venture, Inc. announces the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, will be this year’s celebrity guest at the U.S. Venture Open. The 2018 U.S. Venture Open will be held on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 and funds raised from the annual event help end poverty in Northeast Wisconsin.
When he retired from competitive swimming at the age of 31, Phelps had collected a total of 23 gold, three silver and two bronze medals. He was first introduced to the water at the age of seven through a water-safety program and, like many children, overcame his fear of the water. At age 15, his Olympic aspirations were realized when he finished fifth in the 200-meter butterfly at the 2000 games in Sydney. Sydney was the first of five Olympic Games Phelps competed in.
In 2008, Phelps established the Michael Phelps Foundation to help promote water safety, healthy living and the pursuit of dreams. The Foundation’s signature program – im – provides the same water safety, recreational aquatic activities, health and wellness education, and goal-setting skills that he utilized throughout his career. The Foundation works collaboratively with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics International to implement the program, which has reached more than 17,000 children and counting. In addition, the Michael Phelps Foundation supports Level Field Fund – Swimming, which provides funding to help uniquely talented swimmers in financial need to underwrite further training and development.
“I believe in giving all kids a level playing field in order to develop their individual talents,” Phelps said. “I’m excited
to participate in the U.S. Venture Open because the programs they fund provide so many kids and adults the opportunity to succeed despite their circumstances.”
Phelps’ dedication to water-safety and health education, including mental health awareness, through his Foundation is one reason U.S. Venture leaders invited him to the annual event. U.S. Venture is also a major sponsor of USA Luge, currently competing at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“As an organization, we share many values with Olympic athletes, chiefly high performance and caring relationships,” said John
Schmidt, President/CEO of U. S. Venture, Inc. “The passion Michael Phelps has for giving all kids the opportunity to achieve their dreams is in line with our mission to create opportunity for everyone by ending poverty.”
Phelps will make a personal appearance at the U.S. Venture Open and will be the keynote speaker at the dinner reception held for registered guests that evening at Van Abel’s of Hollandtown.
About U.S. Venture Open
The U.S. Venture Open is the nation’s single largest one-day charitable event dedicated to ending poverty. Funds from the event support the Basic Needs Giving Partnership with a vision to build thriving, equitable communities across Northeast Wisconsin through regional collaborative grants and advocacy. The U.S. Venture Open started in 1986 with 100 golfers and has grown to 1,200 attendees representing more than 700 partners who golf at regional courses to raise money for programs that help end poverty. Follow the event on Facebook, Twitter, or visit the U.S. Venture Open website.
About the Basic Needs Giving Partnership
The Basic Needs Giving Partnership envisions thriving, equitable communities across Northeast Wisconsin. We invest in local and regional solutions that address the root causes of poverty in alignment with our shared values of trust and collaboration, curiosity and learning, and equity with a systems-based approach. The funds raised through the U.S. Venture Open from generous corporations, family foundations, and individuals are granted to support nonprofits providing critical services as well as organizations working to change the systems that hold poverty in place. For more information about the Basic Needs Giving Partnership, please visit our website, bngpwi.org.
About Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in history, capturing a total of 28 medals including a record-setting 23 gold medals, over the course of five Olympic Games. Phelps utilized his performance bonus for winning eight gold medals at 2008 Beijing Games to establish the Michael Phelps Foundation. Committed to growing the sport of swimming, the Foundation addresses the need
for water-safety through its signature program –im– that is available through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics International. The most decorated swimmer in World Championships history, Phelps launched his own competitive swimwear brand – MP – in partnership with Aqua Sphere in 2014. He has published two autobiographies – No Limits: The Will to Success and Beneath the Surface – that were New York Times and USA Today best sellers, as well as published one children’s book – How to Train with a T-Rex and Win Eight Gold Medals. He is a highly regarded inspirational speaker, sharing his message of “Dream, Plan, Reach” with audiences ranging from children to business executives.