| This year, J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc. and M & I Bank Fox Valley will sponsor scholarships for student athletes from local high schools, according to banquet Chairman Mike Reese. “Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (formerly AAL) has been a scholarship sponsor since 1983; we would like to thank them for their many years of supporting the banquet and welcome J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc. as a new banquet sponsor,” Reese said. |  |
| The J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to providing support to non-profit organizations, projects and programs in the Fox Valley that deal with the causes and consequences of poverty and other special areas of interest, like mental health. In February of this year, the Foundation marked $25 million in giving over almost 20 years.
Over those years, Jim Keller’s interest in sports encouraged the foundation to benefit a number of local educational systems. Among them, J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the field house gym floor at Neenah High School and scoreboards at many local schools. “These improvements made a significant difference to the athletic programs at the schools,” said Jim. “We are proud to have the Keller name associated with these high-class educational systems.” So, too, is Jim proud to have the Keller name associated with the Red Smith banquet and the scholarship program that benefits students at local schools. “This is a great opportunity to be associated with a long-standing, first-class event that benefits the community as a whole as well as individual students, too,” Jim said. The Red Smith Sports Award Banquet will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011, at 6:30pm in the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. Former Wisconsin Badger and 1999 Heisman Trophy winner, Ron Dayne will receive the Red Smith Award. Dayne will be introduced by the “Voice of the Badgers” Matt Lepay. Former Milwaukee Brewer, Jeff Cirillo, will accept the “Nice Guy” Award and CBS Sports NFL football TV announcer and studio host of the NCAA “March Madness,” Greg Gumbel, will be the main speaker. Information about the banquet and purchasing of tickets can be obtained by visiting our website at www.redsmith.org, or by calling Joe Ornstein at (920) 570-2536 or email contact@redsmith.org. Tickets are $60.00. |