Former Green Bay Packers player Gilbert Brown is set to visit more than a dozen Wisconsin campgrounds this summer and fall as part of his ongoing efforts to raise funds for children’s charities through the Gilbert Brown Foundation.
The appearances, organized in collaboration with the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO), are part of a broader initiative to engage campers and raise awareness and financial support for children facing serious hardships.
Brown, who founded the nonprofit in 2005, has supported more than 150 children’s charities over the years.
The foundation provides assistance to families of children experiencing a range of difficulties, including access to football camps, gas cards, and help with funding for medical procedures.
According to Brown, campground appearances are a key part of his fundraising work. “It’s our fundraising events that help us generate the resources we need to make a difference in the lives of children who need help,” he said.
Over the next few months, Brown will participate in a series of events at campgrounds throughout Wisconsin.
Activities will include meeting guests, signing memorabilia, and playing games. He noted that keeping the events fun is an important aspect of engaging the public.
Some events will also include appearances from former Green Bay players such as Santana Dotson, Dorsey Levens, Leroy Butler, Eugene Robinson, and Donald Driver, depending on availability. “We always have fun whenever we’re together,” Brown said.
The tour kicks off on June 27 at Champions Riverside Resort in Galesville. Notable upcoming events include a joint appearance with Santana Dotson at Grand Valley Campground in Dalton and Duck Creek Campground in Pardeeville on July 19, followed by a full-day youth football camp at Champions Riverside Resort on July 20.
Brown’s August appearances will take place on August 23, starting from 10 to 11 a.m. at Lakeside Fire Campground in Nekoosa, followed by Rivers Edge Campground in Stevens Point from 12:30 to 3 p.m., and ending the day at Kinney Lake Campground in Marion from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
On August 30, Brown will visit O’Neil Creek Campground in Chippewa Falls from noon to 1 p.m., Stoney Creek RV Resort in Osseo from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and East Bay Lodge in Holcombe at 6:30 p.m.
September events include a stop at Pride of America Camping Resort in Pardeeville on September 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Later in the month, from September 19 to 21, Brown and Eugene Robinson will appear at Backyard Campground in Gratiot, beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday and staying through noon on Sunday.
In October, Brown’s appearances begin with a Mississippi River House Boat Cruise event on October 10 from 2 to 7 p.m., hosted by Great River Harbor Campground and Marina, which will feature over 12 former Green Bay Packers players. The final scheduled event takes place on October 11 at Champions Riverside Resort in Galesville, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where Brown will be joined by Donald Driver.
WACO coordinates the appearances and supports the effort by promoting the events across its network of over 200 independently owned and operated campgrounds across the state.
The association provides online travel planning tools and publishes a campground guide that includes many family-owned destinations not listed on state or national park directories.
The Gilbert Brown Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on empowering children through educational, emotional, and financial support. More information about the foundation’s programs and events is available at www.gilbertbrownfoundation.org.
Featured image by Jeff Crider