Olympic legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee marked a milestone in her lifelong commitment to East St. Louis youth, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation during a gala held Friday at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown St. Louis.
More than 450 guests attended the event, which highlighted the foundation’s growth from the opening of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center in 2000 to the ongoing expansion of the JJK Campus — a hub for youth development, health and education initiatives.
Former KSDK anchor Rene Knott emceed the evening, guiding attendees through Joyner-Kersee’s journey from Olympic champion to community leader and the continued need for funding to sustain and expand her programs.
The evening also raised significant support for the organization’s next phase. Among the highlights was the auction of a commissioned painting by acclaimed Haitian American artist Guy Stanley Philoche, which sold for $50,000. The largest gift of the night came from Ameren Illinois, which announced a $1 million donation toward the Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Innovation (FAN) Center now under construction on the JJK Campus.
Guests also were treated to a “Fireside Chat” between Joyner-Kersee and current world heptathlon champion Anna Hall, who described the Olympic icon as both a role model and mentor. Their exchange symbolized what Hall called a “passing of the baton” between generations of elite athletes.
Throughout the evening, East St. Louis youth took center stage. JJK cheerleaders greeted guests as they arrived, a student step team performed and several young participants offered prayers and reflections underscoring the foundation’s impact in their lives.
A tribute video traced Joyner-Kersee’s 25-year journey from the 2000 ribbon cutting of the original center to today’s multi-building campus, featuring aerial footage, historic moments and testimonials from alumni who now bring their own children to JJK programs.
Joyner-Kersee, widely regarded as the greatest female athlete of all time, said her mission has always been to equip young people with the tools to succeed beyond sports.
“There’s gold in all of us,” read the message written in gold icing on each guest’s dessert plate — a fitting reflection of Joyner-Kersee’s legacy and the belief that drives her foundation’s work.
