Hall of Fame shortstop, Ozzie Smith, featured speaker for Thanks4Giving Gala

The Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks is proud to present Ozzie Smith, a legendary sports icon, as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Thanks4Giving Gala on Thursday, October 10, at the Branson Convention Center.

Ozzie Smith is a Hall of Fame shortstop who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1982-1996 and is one of the most beloved players in franchise history. He was a 15-time All-Star, including 12 years straight from 1981-1992 and also every year from 1994-1996. During the period from 1980-1992, Smith also earned 13 Gold Glove awards for his defense.

Considered to be one of the top defensive shortstops in baseball history, Smith held the MLB record with 1,590 double plays and 8,375 assists during his career. Smith also holds the record in the National League for most games played at shortstop with 2,511.

This year’s Thanks4Giving Gala will offer a private cocktail reception for high-end sponsors, meet and greet opportunities with photographs, extraordinary cuisine and entertainment throughout the evening.

The Thanks4Giving Gala is the Clubs major fundraiser of the year to raise operating cost for the upcoming year. Money raised will stay in the community and go towards programs, education enrichment, meals and needs of Club Members in Taney and Stone counties.

About Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks

The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

The Club provides its services and programs at four locations in Taney and Stone counties: Branson, Crane, Forsyth and Reeds Spring, and offers a summer program at all four units for children ages six to eighteen. In 2023, the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks served more than 1,300 school-age youth and over 100,000 hot meals. In addition to quality programs and activities, Club Members can receive a nutritious meal, academic assistance and age-appropriate personal growth opportunities for only $30 per school year. No child is ever turned away for financial reasons.

As word of Ozzie Smith’s participation has been announced, key sponsorship tables are quickly becoming limited. For those interested in securing space for this important experience and to support Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks at 1460 Bee Creek Rd. Branson, Missouri 65616, please contact Roxanne Amundsen at 417-335-2089 or ramundsen@bgcozarks.org. You can also reserve your sponsorship online at www.bgcozarks.org.