Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ozarks to host annual Thanks4Giving Gala

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ozarks are proud to present legendary sports icon Marcus Allen as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Thanks4Giving Gala, planned for Tuesday, October 20, at the Branson Convention Center. 

The Boys & Girls Clubs are presently working to get students off to a great start for a new school year and by helping ensure a safe, fun and educational place for kids to go during the after-school hours and when school is not in session. The Gala is a major fundraising effort to help make sure those programs happen successfully, and director Stoney Hayes shared that the staff and volunteers would love to see at least 550 attendees this year. 

Marcus LeMarr Allen is a former professional football running back who played 16 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the Los Angeles Raiders after his selection in the 1982 NFL draft following a successful collegiate football career with the USC Trojans. Considered one of the greatest short-yard runners in the game’s history, he spent 11 years with the Raiders and his last five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. 

In addition to encouraging individuals to attend, Hayes expressed his thanks for the amazing sponsors who faithfully commit to the Gala each year. All money raised stays in the community to fund programs, education enrichment, meals and other needs of Club members in Taney and Stone counties. Many “Club kids” have gone on to become leaders and professionals in their communities, citing the caring atmosphere as a major contributor to their success in school and achieving future goals. 

Several levels of sponsorship are available for the Thanks4Giving Gala, with increasing levels of visibility for Corporate, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Presenting sponsors. All levels of sponsorship include a table for 10 at the event, and this year’s Thanks4Giving Gala will offer a private cocktail reception for higher-end sponsors, featuring a meet & greet and photo opportunities with the guest speaker. 

Sponsorship information specifics and individual attendee registration can be found at https://www.bgcozarks.org/2026-thanks4giving-gala/.