One of the greatest tennis players of all time will be headlining Girls Inc.’s 50th Anniversary Gala at the Von Braun Center on Thursday.

Recently retired tennis legend Serena Williams will be the keynote speaker at the Fuel Her Fire Sneaker Gala at 6 p.m.

She will participate in a live Q&A with members from all age levels of the Girls Inc. program and meet with gala donors.

“I think everyone in the community is excited about the gala and the opportunity to see Serena Williams,” said Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt Bryant, CEO of The Moriah Group, which is a sponsor of the event.

“She is a young lady who has risen to success despite tremendous odds in her life,” she said. “She has risen to the pinnacle of her industry. She is very much committed to being an example to girls and giving back. It’s important for young women to see those examples firsthand in front of them so they know what’s possible for themselves.”

Williams won 23 Grand Slam titles and was an Olympic gold medalist. She retired after participating in this year’s U.S. Open.

Girls Inc of Huntsville hopes to raise $500,000 by 2027 to support over 3,000 girls in north Alabama who are involved in its program.

“Girls Inc is a safe space for African American girls to receive the nurturing and support that inspires them to be strong, smart, and bold,” Bryant said. “I had that kind of nurture in my life, and it enabled me to be the strong, visionary CEO that I am today.”

Girls Inc will distribute the donations within its network to help fund program activities that include STEM education, academic enrichment, and courses that empower young Black women to break cycles of poverty, prejudice, and inequity.

Other sponsors for the 2022 Sneaker Gala include Meta, Toyota, Deloitte and Athleta.

Scott Turner reports from Huntsville for AL.com.