'It's just a sign of love': Packers players, celebrities share strong bond with fans at Donald Driver Charity Softball Game

GRAND CHUTE – For the second straight year, the current stars of the Green Bay Packers shined brightest against their legendary counterparts in the annual Donald Driver Charity Softball Game on Sunday at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

In a back-and-forth game full of entertainment and excitement, the Stars team — led by Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones and co-captain A.J. Dillon — defeated Team Legends, captained by Driver and former Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson, 12-11 in front of a sold-out crowd of over 5,000 fans.

The event serves as a fan-friendly fundraiser to raise money for the Donald Driver Foundation, other player charities, including A&A All the Way — Aaron Jones’ charity — and local charitable organizations.

“We’re excited to be back, once again, another year,” Driver said. “It really proves what we’ve been able to do in the community. I think everybody has built that foundation here and you can see the fans keep coming out to support us every single year. It’s for the fans. I think we proved that, right? It’s the community we serve and when you serve the community the community serves you back, so it’s been great.”

The mission of the Donald Driver Foundation is “to display Strong Hands, Strong Minds and Loving Hearts to serve as a hand up, not a handout.” The Donald Driver Foundation has a core focus in serving underprivileged children and families by addressing health and wellness, safety, and education and career development.

Similarly, A&A All The Way Foundation is dedicated to making an impact in the lives of youth. The foundation looks to inspire, educate, and promote unity and diversity across multiple communities. Its primary areas of focus include recreation and fitness, children’s basic needs and supporting kids in military families. The A&A All The Way Foundation believes “children have the potential to change the world if we provide them the opportunities and guidance they deserve.”

This year, $250,000 was raised and donated to the Donald Driver Foundation and $2,500 was presented to A&A All the Way. Network Health again sponsored the event hosted by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

“It was fun,” said wide receiver Christian Watson, who executed a textbook standing backflip in the third inning after making an outstanding catch on a line drive to left field. “I got to come out here and have a little bit of fun for a great cause, so I couldn’t have spent my Sunday night doing anything better. It felt great (to get the win). I’m a competitor in whatever I’m doing, so to come out here and get the win that’s all we’re trying to do.”

Nelson, who returned as a participant after missing the game last season, said it’s always a joy to come back to Wisconsin because of the passionate fans.

“For some reason I feel like I’m surprised every time I walk in here and it’s a full stadium, cars bumper-to-bumper waiting to get in,” Nelson said. “I don’t know why I’m surprised, but I always am. It feels good. It’s always great to be back in Wisconsin seeing the crowds in green and gold. I make a few trips every year and it’s always fun.”

Jones agreed with Nelson on how support from the Packers’ faithful is what makes the event truly special for the athletes who gather, year after year, to put on a show for them.

“When you get out of your car and (the fans) are lined up out there waiting on you, you see people with your jersey or things for you to sign, it’s just a sign of love and so we take the time for them and we just appreciate them for coming out each and every year and making this event better and better,” Jones said. “We’re nothing without our fans here in Green Bay. We know they make the ‘G’ special, so we’ll continue to carry that.”

Not only does the softball game allow fans the opportunity to meet, greet and connect with current and former players, it also acts as a way for the team to bond, building relationships amongst the players themselves — past and present.

“(The fans) are excited to just see everybody out here,” Dillon added. “Obviously we’ve got legends who a lot of people grew up watching, and then there’s a lot of the current guys. We’ve got a lot of rookies out here, a lot of people that fans haven’t seen or heard of yet. We’ve been in OTAs working, so this is a great time for the team to come together, have a good time and still be competitive.”

Driver pointed out it’s just as much of an enjoyable experience for the Packers of previous generations to return and soak in the glory of simply having, at one point in time, put on a Green Bay jersey.

“It’s always good,” Driver said. “I think that’s the thing, a lot of these people they watched me and Jordy, and now they get the opportunity to watch A.J. and Aaron. Then we have guys who played before us — Bill Schroeder, Cletidus Hunt, Tony Fisher – those guys that haven’t been back in a very long time, so they’ll always get the love and support that the community gives us every single time we come back. We truly appreciate it.”

Special guests included comedian and creator of “Manitowoc Minute” Charlie Berens, current Wisconsin Badgers and honorable-mention all-Big Ten wide receiver Chimere Dike, future Badgers quarterback Mabrey Mettauer — a 2024 four-star commit — and Driver’s son Cristian, a redshirt sophomore wide receiver at Penn State after converting from playing safety last season for the Nittany Lions.

The game featured a myriad of sloppy defensive plays and there were 12 home runs hit, including two each by Dike, former Packers wide receiver Bill Schroeder and Nelson. Packers offensive lineman Jon Runyan sent a ball over the new suites in left field, clearing the entire stadium.

Down 12-9 in the final inning, the Legends made it interesting as Dike led off the inning with his second home run, another drive to center field. Schroeder, who hit six home runs to win the pregame Home Run Derby, added his second round-tripper of the game to make things interesting for Driver with two outs and the game on the line.

It wasn’t meant to be as Driver popped up to the pitcher — punter Pat O’Donnell — who earned the win for the Stars for the second consecutive year.

“It was a fun time,” quarterback Danny Etling said. “It was my second time doing it. After last year, it was such a great experience I couldn’t wait to come back out and spend time with the fans and my teammates. Baseball is a fun time. I had to do something good because Indiana State is in the NCAA playoffs, and that’s my hometown, and LSU (also in the NCAA Tournament) is where I went to school. It felt good to get the win. I mean, we expected it. We had to come and repeat after last year. Next year we’re going for the three-peat, amen to that.”

“It was a great event,” added O’Donnell. “This is my second time coming here. I was the pitcher tonight. I’d like to say I played a big part in this ‘W.’ We had a good time, raised some money, cool experience to be out here with the fans. It always brings a bond with the guys off the field, so overall good night. I’m 2-0 right now. I gotta keep coming every year, keep getting these W's. Absolutely, I’ll be here (next year). For those two guys (Jones and Dillon), I’ll be here.”

Although the Legends lost again, there was nothing to dwell on postgame.  

“It was good,” Driver said. “It was a great experience of coming back to try to bounce this thing back, try to pull it off. Unfortunately, we were short.”

Meanwhile, the Jones-Dillon duo confidently basked in the triumph of victory.

“It was great, we went back-to-back and got the job done,” Jones said. “A.J. said we were doing it and we backed it up. It’s a team sport, feels great.”

“Men of our word,” Dillon added. “We said we’re going to win. There was never any doubt from our side. We had a lot of fun. A lot of people came out and supported, and of course we have the best fans in America so it’s awesome to get a ‘dub’ with them watching.”

As for a three-peat next year?

“Three-peat, you know we’re back to it,” said Jones.

Added Dillon: “Absolutely, you know it.”