The 39th annual US Venture Open raises nearly $5 million

APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) – The nation’s largest single-day charity event attracted over 1,300 participants, 900 golfers and raised nearly $5 million as the U.S. Venture Open continues to make a significant contribution to poverty alleviation in Wisconsin.

This year’s event’s official fundraising total was a remarkable $4,825,895, adding to the nearly $70 million raised since the event’s inception. The U.S. Venture Open also donated $56 million to fight poverty in northeast Wisconsin through the Basic Needs Giving Partnership.

“Hosting the US Venture Open year after year and seeing the lasting impact it has on our community is incredibly rewarding,” said Greg Vandenberg, Director of Giving and Community Engagement at US Venture. “We are deeply grateful for the continued support of our partners and the tireless dedication of our team members and community who help put on this event in such a meaningful way.”

In his 39th year, NFL star and Wisconsin native JJ Watt joined dinner guests on Wednesday and was interviewed by Matt Lepay, the voice of the Wisconsin Badgers. At the dinner, once again held at Van Abel’s in Hollandtown, Watt spoke about the history of the JJ Watt Foundation, the importance of his Wisconsin roots, the adrenaline you feel when you’re part of something bigger and the impact of seeing people support each other.

At the dinner, the US Venture Open Foundation for the Fox Valley Region announced a gift of $797,425 to Pillars, the largest single gift in the history of the US Venture Open. The investment was made possible by the estate of David A. Thiede and is designed to ensure continuity of Pillars’ important role in managing 37 properties and 140 affordable housing units in the Fox Cities and to honor David Thiede’s legacy and belief in the Basic Needs Giving Partnership.

The JJ Keller Foundation co-founded the Basic Needs Giving Partnership with US Venture in 2007. In 2023, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership awarded $1.4 million in new grants and distributed $3.86 million in grants to nonprofits throughout Northeast Wisconsin in the Green Bay, Fox Valley and Oshkosh regions. This year’s grants of $600,000 from the JJ Keller Foundation, $250,000 from Oshkosh Corporation and $200,000 from ThedaCare and Thrivent Foundation fuel this initiative.

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