The first Badger Camp 1966 Event at Holiday Gardens Event Center in Potosi Saturday night attracted 400 people and raised a record $90,740 for Wisconsin Badger Camp.

The event featured a speech from retired Green Bay Packer Jerry Kramer, retired Packer Gilbert Brown as guest bartender, silent and live auctions and door prizes. 

All funds raised go directly to the Campership Program, an ongoing initiative to help financially support campers to attend Badger Camp. Badger Camp celebrates 50 years next summer, and in that time it has never turned a camper away due to their inability to pay.

“I’m at a loss for words and overwhelmed by how well the Badger Camp 1966 Event did; it far exceeded our expectations,” said Badger Camp development director Kayla Leibfried. “Meeting a new fundraising record with this new event is amazing, thank you to everyone who was a part of it and made that happen for our organization.”

“Once again, the people of southwest Wisconsin have truly humbled our organization,” said Badger Camp executive director Brent Bowers.

The second annual Badger Camp 1966 Event will take place back at Holiday Gardens Dec. 3, 2016, to celebrate 50 years since the establishment of Badger Camp.