ALAMOSA — Three-time Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will headline the 25th anniversary celebration of Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley on Saturday, September 30.

Sports Illustrated for Women magazine voted Joyner-Kersee the Greatest Female Athlete of All-Time as a result of her five Olympic medals in track & field. In addition to three gold, she won a silver and bronze.

Joyner-Kersee first got involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America movement growing up in St. Louis, where she was active in her city’s local club. She now is one of the organization’s top celebrity speakers, inspiring youth and their families across the country to build positive character traits by being active and getting involved with organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring someone of Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s stature into Alamosa to help us build on the movement of positive youth development that was started 25 years ago by a group of Alamosa citizens,” said Chris Lopez, president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley.

“She is such an inspiration to youth across America. This will be a special day for Alamosa and the San Luis Valley to have her with us talking to the kids and to the community about the importance of supporting youth and their development.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley will hold two events on Saturday, Sept. 30, with Joyner-Kersee. She will visit the Alamosa Clubhouse during the afternoon of Sept. 30 to engage with BGCSLV Club members and all youth and families who want to hear her talk about the Boys & Girls Clubs movement. An autograph session will be held as part of her visit to the Alamosa Clubhouse.

She then will deliver a keynote address to those in attendance at the club’s annual dinner and auction the evening of Sept. 30.

Specific times and additional details on Joyner-Kersee’s appearances will be released later in the summer, Lopez said.

Given the overall running culture of the San Luis Valley and the rich history and success of Adams State University’s track and field and cross-country programs, Lopez said Joyner-Kersee is the perfect speaker to help raise support for the positive youth development work being done by Boys & Girls Clubs.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley has more than 400 active members through its Clubhouses in Alamosa and Center. Youth from communities across the San Luis Valley attend programming and participate in activities delivered by BGCSLV each week throughout the year.