Kidnapping survivor speaks at gala fundraiser  (index.html)  (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/24/kidnapping-survivor-speaks-gala-fundraiser/?outputType=amp)                               (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon.ico@d=600&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-16x16.png@d=600&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-32x32.png@d=600&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-48x48.png@d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-167x167.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)    (../../../../pf/dist/components/output-types/default.css@d=600&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/dist/components/combinations/default.css@d=600&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/__global/css/style.css@d=600&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/wtva/css/main.css@d=600&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.7.2/css/all.min.css)     (index.html#main) Skip to content (https://www.wtva.com/)        (https://www.wtva.com/)     (https://www.wtva.com/livestream) Watch Live  (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/news) Videos  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us              (https://www.wtva.com/homepage) Homepage   (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live   (https://www.wtva.com/news) News   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/local/) Local   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/mississippi) Mississippi   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/alabama/) Alabama   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/national/) National      (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/alerts) Alerts   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/radar) Radar   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/maproom) Forecast Maps   (https://www.wtva.com/page/list-of-local-storm-shelters/) Storm Shelters   (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content/) Submit Weather Pictures/Videos   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/closings) Closings   (https://weathercallservices.com/wtva-nexgen) WeatherCall   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/cams) Cameras   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/junior-weather-authority) Junior Weather Authority   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/elijah-experiments) Elijah Experiments      (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/high-school/) High School   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/friday-night-fever) Friday Night Fever   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/scoreboard/) Friday Night Fever Scores   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/college) College   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/national) National   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/05/14/wtva-air-several-atlanta-braves-games-throughout-regular-season/) Atlanta Braves on WTVA      (https://www.wtva.com/page/download-our-apps/) Download WTVA Apps   (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts   (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wtva/browse) Obituaries   (https://www.wtva.com/community) Community   (https://www.wtva.com/community/studio-9) Studio 9 with Tanya Carter   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/06/04/tickets-2026-tupelo-st-jude-dream-home-giveaway-go-sale-june-25/) Tupelo St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/20/wtva-air-celebration-hope-telethon-support-regional-rehab-center/) Celebration of Hope   (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/community/johnny-stars) Johnny D. 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By (https://www.wtva.com/authors/shawanda-jones/) Shawanda Jones    Published: Oct. 24, 2026 at 12:17 AM EDT | Updated: 6 hours ago     Share     (https://google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.wtva.com)  Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google      COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) – A kidnapping survivor spoke at a gala fundraiser. Elizabeth Smart was the keynote speaker at the Mississippi University for Women’s annual Welty Gala Friday night in Columbus. “Everyone experiences hardship whether it’s on campus, off campus, personal life, public life, job, home, whatever it is,” Smart said. “We all experience hardship. And it could be really easy to feel defined by what you experienced. It’s easy to be defined by one thing. But none of us are just one thing. We are all so much more.” The event at the Trotter Convention Center drew more than a hundred guests. Proceeds support student scholarships at the W.   Smart spoke about resilience and hope. “I believe the definition of hope is the belief that tomorrow will be better than today. That’s why I keep speaking. That’s why I keep advocating. That’s why I keep doing what I do,” Smart said. Attendee Gregory Shapiro said Smart’s openness stood out. “For her to come speak to us, especially because not all of us want to share our story,” Shapiro said. “For her to be open about what happened to her and where she is, is so cool.” Proceeds go directly to the W’s scholarship fund to help make college more affordable.  Copyright 2026 WTVA. All rights reserved.            Most Read   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/23/two-arrested-possessing-firearms-music-video/) (Courtney Davidson and Clayton Mounger are accused by police of appearing in a music video with...)      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