By Rapids City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – The first stop on the Green Bay Packers’ annual spring Tailgate Tour will benefit a Marshfield-based organization that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The Packers chose the PDC Orenda Center of Marshfield as the beneficiary for their April 9 stop at the Marshfield Country Club.

Fundraisers like the Packer Tailgate Tour stop are the lifeline for an organization like the PDC Orenda Center, and it means a lot to Schulz that the Packers chose them.

“We don’t charge anything for any of the services we provide,” explained PDC Executive Director Renee Schulz. “So, our funding comes from some state and federal grants. We are funded through the United Way, but then the balance of that really is through local contributions, donations, and fundraising.

Schulz said that the fundraising has needed to increase of the years due to growth of the agency as well as needs in the community. “The tailgate tour is coming at a fantastic time for us,” she added.

The Packer Tailgate Tour will feature team President and CEO Mark Murphy, and Packers alumni Nick Barnett, Earl Dotson, Ryan Grant, Bernardo Harris, Aaron Kampman and Scott Wells. Due to the earlier start of this year’s off-season program, current players are unable to attend the tour.

Schulz says fans can buy tickets at three different levels, including a VIP package.

“This is an opportunity to come and spend some time with our Packers that are coming into town,” Schulz added. “Just be able to talk with them; to get autographs without standing in line; you’ve got photo ops.”

There’s also a mid-priced ticket available, which gets you a tailgate-type meal featuring brats and hot dogs, a souvenir poster that you can get autographed, and access to a question-and-answer session with the Packer personnel.

PDC is also selling a low-cost ticket, which gets you into the event, but no autographs. Those ticket-holders could purchase the tailgate meal separately. There will also be kids’ games, bounce houses, and t-shirts available for purchase. The event will feature a silent auction, with signed helmets which the Packers are donating.

Gates open at 4 p.m., the VIP dinner begins at 5 p.m., and the rest of the evening’s events start at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the PDC/Orenda Center office, 505 East Depot Street, Marshfield; Marshfield Country Club, 11426 Wren Rd, Marshfield; and Limitless Bootcamp, 3110 48th St. North, Wisconsin Rapids.