Ozzie Smith, Jackie Joyner-Kersee to serve as keynote speakers for Hargrove Foundation’s 9th annual gala in Mobile
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The Hargrove Foundation’s ninth annual gala is coming to the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel on Dec. 5. Ozzie Smith and Jackie Joyner-Kersee will serve as the gala’s keynote speakers.
Smith, a Mobile native, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 2002. He was a 15-time Major League Baseball All-Star, a World Series champion in 1982 with the St. Louis Cardinals, and a 13-time Gold Glove Award winner. He was inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, among several other accolades.
Joyner-Kersee, a six-time Olympic medalist, was dominant in basketball, and track and field at the University of California, Los Angeles. She won medals in four Olympics and won four gold medals in four world championships. Her top track and field events were the long jump and the heptathlon.
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“We are excited to welcome two world-(renowned) athletes to this year’s Gala, adding to our legacy of exciting speakers in Mobile,” Hargrove Foundation Board of Directors President Micki Kohn said.
“We look forward to joining together once again with our community and championing the causes we support through the Hargrove Foundation.”
Smith and Joyner-Kersee join a high-caliber list of keynote speakers for the gala, including John Stallworth, Gen. Russel Honoré, Frank Abagnale, Gen. Colin Powell, Bo Jackson, Sarah Thomas, Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, and Ambassador “Sully” Sullenberger, who spoke at the 2023 event.
Here are fast facts about the event:
Cocktail Hour — All Guests: 6-7 p.m.
Invitation-Only VIP Reception: 6-7 p.m.
8th Annual Hargrove Foundation Gala: 7-9:30 p.m.
Sponsorships include:
Title Sponsorship: $25,000
Gold Medal Sponsorship: $20,000
VIP Reception Sponsorship: $15,000
General Reception Sponsorship: $15,000
Dessert Reception Sponsorship: $15,000
Gold Glove Sponsorship: $5,000
All-Star Sponsorship: $3,000
Individual Ticket: $300
The Hargrove Foundation’s mission is to: “identify charitable causes and organizations in local communities where we can have an impact on lives by giving of our resources and talents to bring greater opportunities for success and development,” its website states.
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