36th annual charity event raises funds to end poverty

(Appleton, WI) June 14, 2021 — U.S. Venture, Inc. announced Academy Award-winning actor, United Nations Messenger of Peace, and philanthropist Charlize Theron will be this year’s celebrity guest at the U.S. Venture Open. The funds raised at the annual event, being held in-person on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, aim to end poverty in Northeast Wisconsin.

While Charlize may be most recognized for her iconic film roles in “Monster,” “The Italian Job,” “Bombshell,” and “Mad Max – Fury Road,” she is equally known for her activism and philanthropic endeavor to create the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP). CTAOP champions young people living in Africa by investing in organizations that prioritize and advance the health, education, community support of youth, and supporting their ability to keep themselves safe from HIV and reach their full potential.

“We’re grateful for the generous support of the U.S. Venture Open. Their commitment to ending poverty is truly inspiring and so aligned with the values of CTAOP.  We are honored to be a beneficiary of their philanthropic efforts, and the support will strengthen CTAOP’s work to improve the lives of youth in Africa,” said Ashlee George, Executive Director of CTAOP.

Theron’s dedication to youth in Africa is one of the many reasons U.S. Venture leadership pursued her involvement in the U.S. Venture Open. Since 2001, the U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation and team members have supported VICODEC, a K-8 school in Kenya, along with collaborative partner Kenya Works. Through charitable giving, child sponsorship, employee trips, and leadership support at VICODEC, U.S. Venture recognizes the important work Theron and CTAOP are doing to invest in the next generation of leaders in Africa.

“U.S. Venture is committed to eliminating the root causes of poverty, and this event is truly a community-wide endeavor,” said John Schmidt, CEO and president of U.S. Venture, Inc. “We are proud to welcome Charlize Theron whose foundation is making an impact to help millions of African youth and people living with HIV.”

Theron will make a personal appearance at the U.S. Venture Open and be interviewed at the dinner reception held for registered guests that evening at Van Abel’s of Hollandtown.

Since 1986, the nation’s single-largest, one-day charity golf outing, $51 million has been raised and $41 million granted through the Basic Needs Giving Partnership to non-profits that end poverty with health and education being a large focus.

“It is really incredible that we were able to align the mission of the U.S. Venture Open to end poverty in our community along with the incredible work being done through CTAOP,” said Greg Vandenberg, director of giving & community engagement for U.S. Venture.  “Through the Open we are excited to team up with Charlize and all our funding partners so this event can continue to invest in ending poverty in Northeast Wisconsin.”

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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 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 across Northeast Wisconsin. The event started in 1986 with 100 golfers and has grown to 1,260 attendees representing more than 500 partners who golf at regional courses to raise money for programs that help end poverty. The 2020 U.S. Venture Open took on a different form in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In partnership with WBAY-TV & Woodward Radio Group a regional all-day media-thon was held. The 2021 event we be held safely, in-person.
To donate and/or register to attend the event, visit the U.S. Venture Open website. Follow the event on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About the Basic Needs Giving Partnership
The Basic Needs Giving Partnership aims to end poverty in Northeast Wisconsin. The funds raised through the U.S. Venture Open from generous corporations, family foundations and individuals are administered by grant teams established at three community foundations. The awarded grants support nonprofits collaborating to coordinate services for people in need throughout Northeast Wisconsin, with a focus on the organizations that are embracing continuous improvement, social innovation, shared measurement, sustainability and scalability.

About U.S. Venture, Inc.
For more than 65 years, U.S. Venture, Inc. has been recognized as an innovative leader in the distribution of petroleum and renewable energy products, lubricants, tires and parts, and using data-driven insights to manage energy and information in the global movement of goods. U.S. Venture delivers unconventional, creative solutions that give their customers a competitive edge, and enables the company to support the communities in which they live, work, and play. Through the values lived by the business divisions: U.S. Oil, U.S. AutoForce®, Tire’s Warehouse, U.S. Gain, Breakthrough, U.S. Lubricants, U.S. Petroleum Equipment, and IGEN, U.S. Venture seeks new ways to drive business success while being steadfast in their commitment to making the world a better place.

About Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP)
CTAOP champions young people living in Africa by investing in organizations that prioritize and advance the health, education, and community support of these youth, supporting their ability to keep themselves safe from HIV. By providing funding, building capacity, and fostering awareness for the work of its Program Partners, CTAOP helps to ensure the youth they serve are on a path to reaching their full potential. CTAOP was created in 2007 by actor and United Nations Messenger of Peace, Charlize Theron, with the hope of making a difference for youth in her home country of South Africa. Although the geographic scope of CTAOP is sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa has remained the primary area of focus with the highest number of people living with HIV in the world. To learn more visit www.charlizeafricaoutreach.org​​ and follow @ctaop.

Contact Information:
Dawn Ruchala
Manager, U.S. Venture Open
[email protected], 920-243-2529