Press Release: U.S. Oil Open raises $1.452 million

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Mary Schmidt, mkschmidt@centurytel.net,
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U.S. Oil Open raises $1.452 million
One day event breaks sets new all-time fundraising high

The U.S. Oil Open raised an all-time high from the one day golf outing of $1,452,000. The amount is $200,000 better more than was raised in 2008 and breaks all records to date.  

Open organizer Sarah Schmidt said “we were overwhelmed that we are able to reach this goal. It’s a testament to how generous our community is even in difficult economic times.” Schmidt is the family president of the U.S. Oil Co., Inc Foundation.

More than 700 people representing 250 businesses, foundations and community non-profit organizations participated in the event held Wednesday, August 12. The U.S. Oil Open is Northeast Wisconsin’s single largest one-day charitable event dedicated to fighting poverty. Four local golf courses staffed by more than 100 volunteers hosted the event. Combined Locks based U.S. Oil Co. Inc. hosts the event by paying all event expenses so that all fund generated through event sponsorships and donations go to the U.S. Oil 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.

Over the 24-year history of the event, the U.S. Oil Open has raised more than $10.4 million. In that time, more than $6 Million has been given in grants to non-profit organizations in the communities of the Fox Valley and Green Bay and more recently Oshkosh.

The U.S. Oil 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 2008 when the J. J. Keller Foundation decided to match the grant making budget of the U.S. Oil Open Fund for Basic Needs.  Since that time, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership granted more than $2 million to non-profits getting to the root causes of poverty.

In May of 2009, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership granted funds to 31 lead organizations and many other collaborating agencies throughout Northeast Wisconsin. Funding is concentrated in organizations that address basic needs for children, working families, seniors and chronic health problems

“The most important thing we can do as a family and as an organization is to help others in need,” said Bill Schmidt, Chairman Emeritus of U.S. Oil Co., Inc. and founder of the event.  “Our family and our businesses have been blessed and thanks to our friends and business partners, very we are able to give back to those who are less fortunate.”  

Participants in the 2009 U.S. Oil Open will gather for breakfast and 18 holes of golf at one of four courses: Mid-Vallee in DePere, Countryside in Kaukauna, Wander Springs in Greenleaf, and Fox Valley Golf Club in Freedom. Golfers were joined by special guest pro golfer Nancy Lopez and Governor Jim Doyle kicked off the tournament.  


As the host of the U.S. Oil Open, U.S. Oil Co., 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 10 percent of the fund balance being given to non-profit organizations in grants annually.

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