U.S. Venture, Inc., a distributor of renewable and traditional energy products, lubricants, tires and parts, announced three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and philanthropist JJ Watt will be this year’s U.S. Venture Open guest of honor. The funds raised at the annual event, to be held Wednesday, Aug. 14, aim to end poverty in Northeast Wisconsin.
JJ Watt has achieved numerous accolades and established himself as one of the NFL’s greatest defensive players of all time. The Pewaukee, Wisconsin native was drafted in 2011 by the Houston Texans out of the University of Wisconsin. The former Badger played in Houston for 10 seasons before finishing his last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. U.S. Venture is excited to partner with Watt because of his enormous philanthropy efforts following Hurricane Harvey and the JJ Watt Foundation.
“I am honored to be part of the U.S. Venture Open this year,” said JJ Watt. “The work being done to drive change and impact poverty in Northeast Wisconsin is close to my heart and I’m grateful to come back to Wisconsin and personally have a direct impact to my home state.”
Watt will make an 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 U.S. Venture Open has been the nation’s single-largest, one-day charity event dedicated to ending poverty with $65 million raised and $56 million granted to nonprofits through the Basic Needs Giving Partnership.
“JJ Watt is an all-time NFL great, Badger alum, and most importantly, a world changer who leveraged his platform to raise more than $40 million in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. He is the perfect fit for the U.S. Venture Open and our mission to end poverty,” said Greg Vandenberg, director of giving & community engagement for U.S. Venture.
For more information, visit the U.S. Venture Open website.
