Thursday, September 25, 2025

Keynote Speaker: Ozzie Smith

Former St. Louis Cardinal 

& 2002 Hall of Fame Inductee

LOCATION:  Venue Chisca

1009 SW Washington St. Peoria, IL

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Doors open at 5:00 pm for Silent Auction.

Dinner at 6:15 pm followed by evening program.

Silent & Live Auctions

Fund-A-Need Paddle Raise

Do not have to be present to win Silent Auction Items.

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Must be present to bid on and win Live Auction Items 

unless prior arrangements have been made.

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Questions?

Call (309) 655-1340 

Or email us at WomensAuxiliaryofPeoriaIL@USC.SalvationArmy.org

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Let's Welcome Ozzie Smith!!!

Ozzie Smith is known in baseball as “The Wizard” and the best defensive shortstop of all time. He was a first ballot inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.  

Ozzie retired from baseball in 1996 after playing 19 years in the major leagues, the first four years with the San Diego Padres and the final fifteen with the St. Louis Cardinals. His nickname describes the way he played shortstop—he performed magic with his glove and performed in the infield with amazing acrobatic agility.

Ozzie broke countless records during his nineteen years in the majors:

• All-time assist leader at shortstop with 8,375 assists
• All-time leader at turning double plays, with 1,590
• 13 consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, signifying the best at his position
• Started at shortstop for 10 consecutive years in the All Star Game, and was the number one vote getter over-all for the 1987 and 1988 All Star Games.

Other noteworthy baseball accomplishments include:

• Earned his 2000th hit in 1992, finishing his career with 2,460 hits
• Consistently one of the toughest hitters to strike out and in 1994 joined his friend Eddie Murray as the only two active players with seventeen straight 100 hit seasons.
• Was named to the All-Century 100 Best Baseball Players of the 20th Century by Major League Baseball.
• Selected as the shortstop on the 50 year Anniversary Rawlings Gold Glove Team and inducted into the Rawlings Gold Glove Hall of Fame in 2011.

Off-the-Field Accomplishments:

• 2001 recipient of the “Walter Payton Sweetness Award”, a Victor Award given to an athlete who has contributed to his community as well as being recognized in his particular sport.
• 1995 recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, the humanitarian award of Major League Baseball
• 1994 recipient of the Branch Rickey Award, personifying “Service Above Self”
• 1992 St. Louis Man of the Year, a prestigious civic award never before given to an athlete.
• 1986 Father of the Year Honors Group Award
• 1983 NAACP Image Award for Sportsmanship, Humanitarianism, and Community Involvement.

Currently, Ozzie serves on the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ozzie also serves as the Education Ambassador for the Baseball Hall of Fame and headlines a fundraiser, “Play Ball with Ozzie Smith” every year in Cooperstown during Induction weekend. Locally, he serves as President of PGA REACH Gateway Foundation, an organization that reaches out to inner city youth and our military via mentoring and golf programs.

Ozzie is currently the host of “Cardinals Insider”, a weekly news magazine television show airing in multiple markets throughout the Cardinal territory. Since retirement from baseball Ozzie succeeded Mel Allen as host of This Week in Baseball, was the color analyst for Cardinal broadcasts in 1997-1999, and served as the baseball analyst for CNNSI, a joint venture between CNN and Sports Illustrated from 1999 to 2002. 

In May 2017 the Ozzie Smith Center opened in Chesterfield, Missouri.  This Center establishes personalized protocols for patients using physical therapy, chiropractic, platelet rich plasma, spine decompression, and stem cell rejuvenation in pain management and treatment. Ozzie is a partner in this business and has always believed in alternative methods of healing.

In 1998, 1999 and 2001 Ozzie was cast in three theatrical productions at The Municipal Theatre in St. Louis. He had a cameo role in “Damn Yankees” in 1998. In 1999 he sang and tap danced in “The Muny Goes British” a musical revue based on songs from various Broadway musicals, and in 2001 he starred as The Wizard in The Muny’s production of “The Wizard of Oz”. 

Ozzie has three children and three grandchildren and makes St. Louis his home because he feels a deep responsibility to give back to the community that has so enriched his life.

[sponsors all]

The Women's Auxiliary of Peoria directly works to support the larger Salvation Army mission all year-round in a variety of ways. Their members serve as volunteers, fundraisers, Salvation Army public ambassadors and so much more!

Since 1922 the Women's Auxiliary has been connecting their members' dedication to local services & programs aimed at serving Peoria's greatest needs. From Fashion Shows to Auctions, or Garage Sales & Dinners - their events have always been a large part of the success The Salvation Army has accomplished within the Tri-County communities.

The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary, Peoria, IL exists to support the Salvation Army through fundraising and volunteering.  The Women’s Auxiliary currently organizes two fundraising efforts each year:

● Annual Fall Fundraiser, “Hope Has An Army”

● Donut Day Fundraiser on National Donut Day (the first Friday in June)

Money from these two events goes toward the Tree of Lights Campaign, scholarships of women’s ministry camps, and various Salvation Army programs and facilities. All funds raised by the Women’s Auxiliary stay local to benefit those in need in the Tri-County area. In the past 16 years alone, the Women’s Auxiliary has donated more than $1.5 million to The Salvation Army!

The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary also supports Salvation Army Programs by volunteering in many ways throughout the year:

● Serving Lunch with Love once a month at the Sylvia Fites Center.

● Setting up and assisting at the three-day Christmas Toy Shop for area families.

● Helping to count money donated to the Red Kettles during the Christmas Season.

● Helping with other projects, like mailings and stuffing food boxes, whenever needed.

● Planting spring plants and flowers on The Salvation Army downtown campus.

● Praying for The Salvation Army, its staff, and our auxiliary members.

The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary promotes, believes in, and is dedicated to their Salvation Army volunteer work because they believe in the Army’s mission of “Doing the Most Good”.