Proceeds Benefit Cardinals Care Redbird Rookies Program and PGA REACH Gateway Foundation in Honor of Ozzie Smith
Participants Finish with a Victory Lap on the Field at Busch
ST. LOUIS, Mo., February 15, 2023– Registration is underway for the 2023 Cardinals 5K, presented by Bally Sports Midwest. The 5K will take place both in-person and virtually, allowing Cardinals fans across the world the chance to run, jog or walk on their own. All participants will receive an exclusive long sleeved t-shirt, a commemorative medallion that pays tribute to National Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, and the opportunity to take a victory lap on the warning track at Busch Stadium. Proceeds will benefit both the Cardinals Care Redbird Rookies Youth Softball and Baseball Program, which is celebrating its 20thyear of operation, and PGA REACH Gateway Foundation.
The in-person event is Saturday, April 22, 2023. Both Smith and six-time Olympic medalist, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, will be on hand to officially start the race at 8:30 AM. The course will start on 8th Street near the Stan Musial Statue at Busch Stadium and continue through the streets of downtown St. Louis, finishing on Clark Street between Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium. From there, participants will have the opportunity to take a victory lap around the warning track inside Busch Stadium and enjoy a post-race party out on the Busch II infield at Ballpark Village.
“I am thrilled to join the Cardinals and Bally Sports Midwest to help raise funds for Cardinals Care and PGA Reach.” said Smith. “It is a privilege to be part of a team that is dedicated to supporting kids right here in our community.”
Those interested in participating can learn more and register at cardinals.com/5K.
About Cardinals Care
Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way to team up with Cardinals players and the organization to help children in our community—both on and off the baseball field. Established in 1997, Cardinals Care has invested over $31 million to support St. Louis area children, built or renovated 24 youth ball fields in local under-resourced neighborhoods, and distributed over $17 million in grants to nonprofit organizations. 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free co-ed baseball/softball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 2,000 kids who participate in the program each year. To learn more about all of Cardinals Care’s programs visit cardinals.com/community and follow @CardinalsCare on Twitter.
About PGA REACH Gateway Foundation
Founded in 2007, PGA REACH Gateway Foundation has a mission of inspiring and directing the resources of our golfing community to positively impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations through the game of golf. We do this by enabling access to PGA professionals, and PGA facilities throughout Eastern & Central Missouri, and Central & Southern Illinois as a 501(c)(3) foundation. The establishment of the Foundation was intended to help attract a PGA Tour event which helped award St. Louis the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in 2018. From its St. Louis roots, PGA REACH has since been adopted as the official not-for-profit arm of the PGA of America, impacting thousands of kids and veterans throughout the United States each year. In addition to our St. Louis area programming, PGA REACH Gateway Foundation has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis to build a golf-centric facility on North Grand to provide kids from North City and County an equitable place to find further success in life through the game of golf. To learn more about PGA REACH, visit gatewaypga.org/pga-reach and follow @GatewayPGAREACH on Twitter.
