APPLETON — On behalf of the Living with Assistance partnership, we'd like to thank all of the community members and organizations that supported the U.S. Oil Golf Open. This phenomenal event raised more than $2.2 million for the Basic Needs Giving Partnership, a collaboration between the U.S. Oil Open Fund for Basic Needs and the J. J. Keller Foundation.

This partnership is focused on fighting poverty in northeast Wisconsin through the efforts of various nonprofit organizations, improving the quality of life for thousands of people in our community.

In February 2009, at the urging of the Basic Needs Partnership and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the American Red Cross-Outagamie County Chapter, Bethany Home, Clarity Care and Fox Valley Lutheran Homes joined forces to create the Living With Assistance partnership.

The goal of our partnership is to increase and improve access to supportive care services for older and disabled adults in the Fox Valley region so they can remain independent and thrive in their own homes.

Not only would Living With Assistance not be possible, but many other programs supporting people living in poverty would not be in existence today without the generosity of the Basic Needs Giving Partnership.

We're so fortunate to live in a community in which we genuinely care about the welfare of each citizen. Thank you, U.S. Venture and J. J. Keller for caring about the communities you serve. What an example for others to follow!

Christie Gonwa, Bethany Home;

Anthony Gonzalez, American Red Cross-Outagamie Chapter;

Cheryl Muggenthaler, Fox Valley Lutheran Homes; and Leslie Taylor and Chris Wales, Clarity Care